ASSE Responds to OSHA's Proposed Rule to Protect Workers Exposed to Crystalline Silica

CHICAGO, Aug. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This Statement is attributable to Kathy A. Seabrook CSP, CMIOSH, EurOSHM, President, American Society of Safety Engineers:

Now that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has moved forward rulemaking on a possible standard to address the occupational exposure to silica, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) looks forward to the opportunity to bring the expertise and experience of its member safety, health and environmental (SH&E) professionals to an open debate about the appropriate regulation of this risk. 

Our members already manage successfully the risks posed by silica in practical,cost effective ways and work with employers committed to protecting workers from those risks.  By finally moving this rulemaking forward, the entire occupational safety and health community will have the opportunity to share best practices and varied perspectives on how best to protect workers from a risk that, despite advances in protecting workers from silica risks, still kills more than 150 workers and harms the health of thousands more every year.  Our hope is that this debate and the information shared can help encourage more employers to provide better protections to their workers as this rulemaking proceeds.              

SOURCE American Society of Safety Engineers