ASA Urges OSHA to Withdraw Proposed Rule on Occupational Exposure to Crystalline Silica

ALEXANDRIA, VA. – The American Subcontractors Association (ASA) believes the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s proposed rule on occupational exposure to crystalline silica is “so fundamentally flawed” that the ASA called on OSHA to immediately withdraw it.

“ASA believes that the proposed rule, as it would apply to employers in the construction industry, is so fundamentally flawed that it cannot be remedied through the current rulemaking process,” ASA told OSHA in its comments, filed on Feb. 8, 2014. “Further, ASA does not believe that the proposed rule meets the required standards of technological and economic feasibility. In more plain language, ASA believes that the proposed rule is simply unworkable and its requirements unattainable for most employers in today’s construction environment.”

ASA recommended that OSHA undertake a new rulemaking process that “assures that those who work in the construction industry are protected from unnecessary exposure to crystalline silica, is underpinned with good science, and for which implementation is both technologically and economically feasible for construction employers.”

ASA pointed out several flaws in the proposed rule. For example, OSHA relied on a 10-year-old Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act panel review that used economic data that “does not reflect today’s construction industry — an industry that has not recovered from a nearly unprecedented boom and bust cycle.”

ASA also noted internal inconsistencies in the proposed rule: “For example, OSHA states both that construction employees do not perform tasks for entire shifts and that, in response to the proposed rule, ‘construction work involving silica exposure will tend to become a full-time job for some construction workers.’ That is, even OSHA admits that implementation of its proposed rule is likely to lead to workers being exposed to silica for longer periods of time. If so, ASA finds OSHA’s conclusion alarming and in contravention of OSHA’s very mission — to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women.”

ASA also expressed its concern that OSHA does not take into consideration the dynamic environment and the unique multiemployer nature of construction. ASA wrote that “in order to comply with OSHA’s proposed rule, a construction employer with employees who perform tasks that can potentially expose them to crystalline silica would seem to need access to a non-silica-based crystal ball to predict changing variables as diverse as the direction of the wind and the practices of another contractor on the job site, or be prepared to deploy controls and equipment on practically every site, significantly increasing its costs.”

ASA also pointed out problems with the proposed rule’s exposure assessment requirements, requirement for regulated areas, methods of compliance, medical surveillance requirements and recordkeeping requirements.

In addition, ASA endorsed the extensive comments submitted by the Construction Industry Safety Coalition of which it is a member. In conjunction with the Coalition, ASA called on OSHA to engage “in a meaningful dialogue on a workable approach to continuing the measurable trend in the reduction of silicosis-related diseases.”

The Construction Safety Industry Coalition, a collaboration of 25 trade associations, represents all sectors of the construction industry, including commercial building, heavy industrial production, home building, road repair, specialty trade contractors and material suppliers. Workplace safety and health is a priority for all members of the coalition, and each is committed to helping create safer construction jobsites for workers. Its members include:

• American Road and Transportation Builders Association
• American Society of Concrete Contractors
• American Subcontractors Association
• Associated Builders and Contractors
• Associated General Contractors
• Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry
• Building Stone Institute
• Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association
• Construction & Demolition Recycling Association
• Distribution Contractors Association
• Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute
• International Council of Employers of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
• Leading Builders of America
• Marble Institute of America
• Mason Contractors Association of America
• Mechanical Contractors Association of America
• National Association of Home Builders
• National Association of the Remodeling Industry
• National Demolition Association
• National Electrical Contractors Association
• National Roofing Contractors Association
• National Utility Contractors Association
• Natural Stone Council
• The Association of Union Constructors
• Tile Roofing Institute

Released by OSHA on Aug. 23, 2013, during a news conference that laid out few details, the proposed rule “seeks to lower worker exposure to crystalline silica,” a natural occurring component of soil, sand, granite and other minerals. Many common construction operations in dozens of specialty trade activities involve silica, including those that cut, grind, crush or drill materials that contain silica, such as concrete, masonry, tile or rock.

Founded in 1966, ASA amplifies the voice of, and leads, trade contractors to improve the business environment for the construction industry and to serve as a steward for the community. The ideals and beliefs of ASA are ethical and equitable business practices, quality construction, a safe and healthy work environment, and integrity and membership diversity.