CFR 185 - Respirable Crystalline Silica

On March 25, 2016, OSHA revised Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 1910, 1915 and 1926 to add new substance-specific standards for occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica (Federal Register). These standards establish an action level of 25 micrograms per cubic meter (25 μg/m3 ) as an eight hour time-weighted average and a permissible exposure limit 50 μg/m3 as an eight hour time-weighted average. Changes were also made to 29 CFR 1910.1000, Table Z-3, to 29 CFR 1915.1000, Mineral Dusts table, and to Appendix A of 29 CFR 1926.55 to reference the new standard for each part.

The N.C. Commissioner of Labor adopted this final rule with an effective date of September 2, 2016.