OSHA Silica-Rule Comment Deadline Now Feb. 11

WASHINGTON – The deadline for commenting on the proposed crystalline-silica exposure rules by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is now Feb 11.

The agency dovetailed another 15 day to the original Jan. 27 deadline after some confusion on information originally published on www.regulations.gov, the federal government’s online portal for submitting rulemaking comments

To submit comments using www.regulations.gov, stakeholders may click on the “COMMENT NOW!” box next to the title “Occupational Exposure to Crystalline Silica; Extension of Comment Period” and follow the instructions on-line for making electronic submissions.

Information on the proposed rule is available at www.osha.gov/silica.

The proposed changes significantly alter current exposure levels and increase workplace monitoring. A coalition of building-industry groups, including the Marble Institute of America, oppose the changes as unwarranted and arbitrary.

Public earings on the proposed rule are scheduled to begin on March 18, 2014.