In July, a proposed bill named the Silicosis Prevention Act was withdrawn from consideration in California. This proposed bill would have substantially affected the manufactured stone industry by banning dry fabrication...more
Introduction: Understanding the New Regulations on Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a human carcinogen. ...more
Newly appointed Standards Board Chair Joseph Alioto, Jr. led a very full monthly Standards Board meeting that touched on a wide range of rulemaking and legislative updates. Mr. Alioto began the meeting by recognizing outgoing...more
MSHA announced it will hold a series of stakeholder meetings across the country to share information about the final silica rule issued on April 18, 2024. The first two meetings are scheduled for Arlington, VA on July 10,...more
Traditionally, toxic tort related claims are brought under product liability actions for negligence, breach of warranty, and strict liability. Asbestos has historically been the center of toxic tort litigation. The number of...more
The May 16th Standards Board Meeting and May 20th Cal/OSHA Advisory Committee meetings offered many rulemaking updates and even clarified some questions that have been posed to Cal/OSHA in recent months. Petition 605...more
On April 16, 2024, the Mine Safety & Health Administration (“MSHA”) released its final rule for Respirable Crystalline Silica (“RCS”) for preliminary viewing, and it was published in the Federal Register on April 18, 2024....more
The Beltway Buzz is a weekly update summarizing labor and employment news from inside the Beltway and clarifying how what’s happening in Washington, D.C., could impact your business. SCOTUS: “Significant” Harm Not...more
The Acting Secretary of Labor appeared with the Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health, Chris Williamson and union leaders on April 16th at an event in Uniontown, PA to announce the release of MSHA’s final respirable...more
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (“MSHA”) released its long-anticipated silica rule on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (See the rule here) The rule is aimed at reducing miners’ exposure to respirable crystalline silica,...more
The Beltway Buzz is a weekly update summarizing labor and employment news from inside the Beltway and clarifying how what’s happening in Washington, D.C., could impact your business. Congress on Spring Break...What’s on...more
We have an important update to share about the status of MSHA’s Respirable Crystalline Silica rulemaking, officially proposed as Lowering Miners’ Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica and Improving Respiratory Protection....more
On December 14, 2023, California’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board approved an emergency temporary standard (ETS) intended to enhance protection of workers from the hazards of respirable crystalline silica...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Cal/OSHA’s Standards Board approved the Division’s revisions to the silica standard on an emergency basis, requiring a regulated area, PPE, and air monitoring for any workplace with a stone or tile cutting...more
Last week, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board approved an emergency temporary standard regarding respirable crystalline silica (RCS). The standard will take effect December 29, 2023....more
The nation’s best conference for toxic tort and environmental practitioners will be in the City of Brotherly Love, with best-in-class CLE, enhanced networking opportunities, and new ways to connect with your...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced that OSHA has launched a new initiative focused on enhancing enforcement and providing compliance assistance to protect workers from the hazards of silica....more
Congress May Kick Appropriations Can to December. Like many of us, our elected federal legislators have grown more comfortable with working remotely. That is why this week, even though the U.S. Congress was out on its August...more
It’s hard to keep up with all the recent changes to labor and employment law, especially since the law always seems to evolve at a rapid pace. In order to ensure you stay on top of the latest changes and have an action plan...more
On July 20, 2023, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board approved promulgating an Emergency Temporary Standard for Respirable Crystalline Silica (Silica). The Silica ETS will require the fabricated stone industry to protect its...more
On July 20, 2023, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (Cal/OSHA Standards Board) held its monthly meeting and received public comments on Petition File No. 597, a proposal to amend Title...more
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) recently posted its long-awaited proposed silica rule on its website — and the agency is expected to officially publish the proposal in the Federal Register on Thursday....more
SCOTUS Recap. Because the Buzz was away briefly, we want to make sure that our readers have seen the thoughtful insights prepared by our colleagues on the impacts to employers stemming from the Supreme Court of the United...more
MSHA has published the proposed silica rule on their website. Among other things, MSHA proposes to set the permissible exposure limit of respirable crystalline silica at 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m3) for a full...more
As the calendar turns to a new year, the Mine Safety and Health Administration appears to have found its footing – and that means mine operators need to be on their toes in 2023. After a presidential administration change,...more