The US Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has issued a new standard to protect miners from the harmful effects of silica dust. This announcement adds to the number of new standards and regulations being issued by the Biden administration. It comes 50 years after a report recommended reducing worker exposure to silica, and over 90 years after at least 764 mostly African American workers died while digging the Hawks Nest tunnel through a mountain of solid silica in West Virginia.
The new rules lower the permissible exposure limit for silica dust and require mine operators to implement better controls and monitoring to protect workers. It also mandates medical check-ups for miners and updates respiratory protection standards. Coal mines have one year to comply, while metal and non-metal mines have two years.
MSHA estimates the changes will save nearly 1,100 lives and prevent more than 3,700 cases of silica-related illnesses. The standard comes after a recent resurgence of severe black lung disease among miners.
Source: Confined Space, 17 April