CPWR created a very useful website to assist the construction industry in complying with the new silica regulations.
The website has information on the hazards associated with silica, training resources, and walks you through creating a work plan. THE NIOSH NORA Industrial Hygiene workgroup reached out to CPWR and worked with them to expand the website to include the oil and gas industry and “sand- frac sand” industry as a source of dust generation which will aid employers involved in hydraulic fracturing create a work plan in order to comply with the OSHA silica regulation.
https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.1053
ALL elements of the OSHA silica regulation are effective EXCEPT for the requirement to implement engineering controls. The following are the elements that employers with employees exposed to respirable crystalline silica should be currently implementing:
- Exposure assessment
- Regulated areas
- Methods of compliance (includes written control plan and engineering controls)
- Respiratory protection
- Housekeeping
- Medical surveillance
- Communication of hazards to employees
- Recordkeeping
For the "HYDRAULIC FRACTURING HAZARD ALERT", follow this link http://nteps.com/index.php/safety-alerts/122-hydraulic-fracturing-hazard-alert
