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Launch of silica enforcement in general industry and maritime

Summary OSHA told regional offices that most general industry and maritime silica requirements would become enforceable June 23, 2018. For the first 30 days, inspectors were to emphasize assistance for employers making good-faith compliance efforts and seek national review before issuing citations. The memo describes that initial period; OSHA later issued fuller interim inspection guidance.
Document
Federal guidance
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
2018-06-07
Date issued
June 7, 2018
Status
Unknown
This memo sets a 30-day launch policy beginning June 23, 2018. OSHA later issued interim silica inspection guidance on June 25, 2018; this page gives no express status for the launch memo.
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1910 OSHA 1915 Silica Enforcement
Source
View the official document

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The current status of this document is unclear
This memo sets a 30-day launch policy beginning June 23, 2018. OSHA later issued interim silica inspection guidance on June 25, 2018; this page gives no express status for the launch memo. It may no longer reflect the agency's current position. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.
About this page: The full text below is the official document from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Ezel adds the plain-English summary and tracks the document's status. The official source linked on this page is authoritative for any reliance.

June 7, 2018

MEMORANDUM FOR:
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATORS

FROM:
GALEN BLANTON
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary

SUBJECT:
Enforcement Launch for the Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard in General Industry and Maritime, 29 CFR § 1910.1053

Most provisions of the Respirable Crystalline Silica standard for general industry and maritime, 29 CFR § 1910.1053, become enforceable on June 23, 2018. The standard establishes a new 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 µg/m³, an action level (AL) of 25 µg/m³, and associated ancillary requirements.

During the first 30 days of enforcement, OSHA will assist employers that are making good faith efforts to meet the new standard's requirements. If upon inspection, it appears an employer is not making any efforts to comply, compliance officers should conduct air monitoring in accordance with Agency procedures, and consider citations for non-compliance with any applicable sections of the new standard. Any proposed citations related to inspections conducted in this 30-day time period will require National Office review prior to issuance.

Additionally, to ensure effective implementation and uniform enforcement of the new standard, OSHA has developed interim inspection and citation guidance to be released in the coming weeks. Regional offices are advised to contact the Office of Health Enforcement at (202) 693-2190 with any questions regarding enforcement of the new silica rule.

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