Visualizing OSHA’s Silica Standard PEL

Beginning in late June of 2018, OSHA began strictly enforcing its new rule for the Permissible Exposure Limit for respirable crystalline silica, or as we know it, silica dust. The new standard was set to 50 micrograms per cubic meter, with an active level of 25 micrograms per cubic meter, over the course of an 8-hour workday. This new standard is 5x lower than previous standards, a reduction of 400%. This protects not only workers and employees, but also keeps all people safe as possible.

What does 50 micrograms per cubic meter looks like over an 8-hour workday?

To put that into perspective, OSHA’s permissible exposure limit of silica dust, over the course of an 8-hour workday, is equivalent to emptying just ONE sugar packet spread over an entire football field.

If you were to expose workers to moredust than what is within that sugar packet, not only are you putting your own employees at  severe risk for irreversible lung damage, COPD, silicosis, and lung cancer, but you are putting your own company at risk for non-compliance. In late 2018, a Virginia-based construction company was issued five citations for crystalline silica dust related violations. According to Bloomberg Environment, the fines totaled $304,000 from just one construction project.

Understanding the rule only goes so far, and compliance itself isn’t enough. NeSilex was designed to be a simple silica solution, exceeding all OSHA guidelines and requirements. It’s easy to implement and effective in reducing all types of dust (especially silica) at an extremely high dilution ratio. Simply add NeSilex to water spray down systems for visible and respirable dust reduction up to 100%. Minimize worker exposure, enhance workplace safety, and protect your people and your business with NeSilex.

To learn more about the dangers of silica dust, how you can protect your most important asset- your people, or about NeSilex, the simple silica solution check out www.nosilicadust.com/about/.