What's Up at Manatee-Sarasota BIA 10.16.17

As NAHB Now has reported in their post Eliminate the Dust: Complying with the new Silica Standard, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has decreased the permissible levels of exposure to crystalline silica for construction. NAHB is actively lobbying policy makers informing them that this change in the ruling is wide-reaching and will be difficult to enforce let alone meet. Pending any change from NAHB’s legal challenge still outstanding, it’s now the law of the land.

A national safety consulting firm, SFI Compliance Inc, and NAHB Safety Committee member, has provided information to avoid fines and comply with the new rule. This is a standard that is far-reaching, and will be a challenge to comply with. Since subcontractors dominate most jobsites, builders still have oversight responsibilities. OSHA, under its multi-employer citation policy, calls the builder the “controlling employer.” As the CE, the “builder has general oversight responsibility over the jobsite, including the power to correct safety and health violations itself or require others to correct them.  This creates potential liability for the builder if crystalline silica exposures above the permissible levels are present.”

Silica exposure occurs during the building process while sanding, chipping, drilling, and sawing materials. Contact your insurance agent and verify your General Liability and Workers Compensation coverage so you know your exposure. Remember we are in one of the busiest areas in the country for construction so do not get caught thinking OSHA will not be checking. 

That’s My Two Cents!