b'TECH TALK OSHA silica standards for constructionRevising Table 1now is the time to actBy Tile Council of North America staffTheOccupationalSafetyandA60-to90-daycommentperiod HealthAdministration(OSHA)hasis expected once the notice is pub-announcedplanstoreopenthelished.Totakeadvantageofthis Occupational Exposure to Respirableuniqueopportunity,companies CrystallineSilicaruling,primar- wantingchangestoTable1must ily focused on possible changes toorganize quickly and assemble data Table 1 of the silica standard. Tableto support their requests.1isalistingofconstructiontasks withengineeringcontrols,workTable 1practices,andpossiblerespiratoryIfataskislistedonTable1, protection that provides complianceandtheemployerensuresthat certaintyforthosetasks.Currentlyall requirements are followed, the its comprised of only 18 commonemployer does not have to conduct constructionoperations,eachwithanexposureassessmentforthat theirownlimitations.Thelistcanoperation. However, the list is far befoundathttps://www.osha.gov/ from exhaustive and includes limi-silica/Table1sect1926.1153.pdfortations. For example:https://bit.ly/2ZaS0zg.Severaltasks,includingcutting The notice to reopen the rule is cur- fiber-cementbackerboards,are rently at the Office of Managementlimitedtoonlybeingconducted and Budget (OMB) for review beforeoutdoors. Thisexcludesnotonly publicationintheFederalRegister.performingthetaskindoors,but 78TileLetter | August 2019'