While the Summer of 2018 may seem far away, companies should be preparing now to be ready to meet the significant new requirements of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (“OSHA”) new rule for respirable crystalline silica. Compliance obligations under the new rule start on June 23, 2018.

Silica is believed to be the most pervasive workplace contaminant of all with an estimated 50% of all workplaces having potentially respirable silica present in some fashion. The new silica rule is notable because it greatly reduces the permissible exposure level (PEL) for employees and creates many new requirements for businesses. Companies will be required to implement engineering and work practice controls to reduce exposures, and only if these administrative controls are insufficient in controlling silica, will respiratory protection be allowed. With the new rule’s requirements for engineering and work practice controls, the economic impact to businesses from compliance with the new rule will be severe.