August 26, 2013 – Aggregates operations with an adjacent asphalt plant can take note of this: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a proposed permissible exposure level (PEL) for silica dust, according to the National Asphalt Pavement Association.
The proposed level is more stringent than the agency’s current regulations, but thanks to the work of the Silica/Milling Machine Partnership the asphalt industry is positioned to meet the new standard. The proposed PEL for silica dust is now set at 50 micrograms of respirable crystalline silica per cubic meter of air (50 µg/m3). This is consistent with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) current recommended exposure level (REL) for silica, and will provide greater protection for those who work with materials that cause silica exposure.