Construction trade groups form coalition on silica

Rockville, MD – Several construction industry trade associations have formed a coalition in response to OSHA’s proposed rule on crystalline silica.

Announced Aug. 23, the proposed rule would cut the current permissible exposure limit in half, among other new requirements.

The Construction Industry Safety Coalition is made up of 11 organizations, including the Associated General Contractors of America, National Association of Home Builders and Mechanical Contractors Association of America. The coalition said it intends to work with OSHA in developing a rule to protect workers without imposing “unnecessary costs and burden” on construction industry employers, according to a press release.

Calling the proposed rule a “good starting point,” Tom Skaggs, the Mechanical Contractors Association of America’s safety and health committee chairman, suggested several of the rule’s provisions are not feasible and are unnecessary.