On March 24, U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Thomas E. Perez announced a long-awaited final rule to improve protections for workers exposed to respirable silica dust. The rule is expected to save more than 600 lives annually and to prevent more than 900 cases of silicosis.
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The secretary called the rule a partnership between labor and management. At the announcement ceremony, Perez was joined by a number of union and other labor representatives, as well as Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, John Howard, MD, and Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) David Michaels, PhD.
According to the secretary, this substantially reduces worker exposure with “common sense practical approaches.” Michaels noted that industry played a role in showing them that preventive measures are doable and economical. Furthermore, the rule provides employers with “remarkable flexibility” to comply with a 2-year implementation window.