cancer, kidney disease, silicosis and other illnesses. Nearby workers and the public can breathe it, too, and âtake ho
National COSH Fact Sheet
Silica Kills Don’t Let Special Interests Stop a New Safety Standardd THE PROBLEM More than 2 million workers
THE SOLUTION–NEW RULES READY TO GO
Bricklayer Chris Johnson, right, and his wife Beverly. At age 40 his lungs are severely damaged by exposure to silica dust. Doctors say he can expect to live until about age 45.
Maryam Jemeel, Center for Public Integrity
are exposed to silica dust each year in construction, foundries, mining, shipbuilding, and other industries. Crystalline silica can cause cancer, kidney disease, silicosis and other illnesses. Nearby workers and the public can breathe it, too, and “take home” dust can harm family members. The current standard limiting exposure to silica, issued in 1971, is outdated.
The Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) is now reviewing public comments and preparing to issue a final standard. It would reduce the dust levels allowed by OSHA in half for most workers and by five times for construction and maritime workers. The new regulation will also require monitoring of worker exposure and training for employees.
THE BENEFITS The new silica standard will save nearly 700 lives a year, and will prevent 1600 new cases of silicosis each year. The standard will cost approximate $1,200 a year for each covered workplace, and just $550 for small businesses. It will save $2.8 to $4.7 billion over the next 60 years, as employers and workers benefit from lower health care costs, less sick time, and higher productivity.
THE CHALLENGE Corporate lobbyists are working overtime to stop the new silica rules, making phony claims of high costs for business while downplaying real health risks to workers. Allies of Big Business in Congress have added amendments – or “riders” – to budget bills that will block the new standard.
WHAT YOU CAN DO Current spending authority for federal agencies expires on Dec. 11, 2015 and Congress must pass a new budget by that date. To protect workers from the hazards of deadly silica dust, please:
Contact your Senators and U.S. Representatives. Tell them you insist on a clean federal budget, with no restrictions on OSHA or other federal agencies charged with protecting our health and safety.
Contact President Obama. Let him know you support OSHA’s efforts to protect workers – and insist that he veto any budget proposal that blocks action on silica.
Sign up for the National COSH e-newsletter for updates on silica and workplace safety issues. For more information, see the National COSH BACKGROUNDER on silica dust and READ THE STORIES of workers suffering from exposure. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NATIONAL COSH OR TO CONNECT WITH A LOCAL COSH GROUP PLEASE VISIT WWW.COSHNETWORK.ORG
