Industry groups petition court to review silica rule

Schaumburg, IL – The American Foundry Society and the National Association of Manufacturers have requested that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit review OSHA’s recently released final rule on silica.

Both organizations have expressed concern about the rule’s effects on employers. “This regulation raises serious and significant legal questions, lacks economic and technical feasibility and justification and will cost billions,” NAM Senior Vice President and General Counsel Linda Kelly said in a press release. “Relying on incredibly out-of-date data, this rule places undue burdens and irreparable harm on manufacturers, especially small and medium-sized businesses, some of which could be forced to shut their doors.”

OSHA announced the final rule, which intends to protect workers from exposure to respirable crystalline silica, on March 24. The agency claims the rule will save more than 600 lives and prevent more than 900 cases of the lung disease silicosis every year, but critics maintain that compliance will be costly and difficult.

“AFS seeks a regulation that is based on sound science and protects workers, while also being technologically and economically feasible,” AFS CEO Jerry Call said in a press release.

The petition was filed through the AFS Texas chapter on April 4.