NRECA Comments on OSHA Rule Regarding Silica Exposure

In response to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) draft rule regarding crystalline silica, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) argued in its comments that an exemption for cooperatives is appropriate, given that distribution cooperative employees primarily encounter trace amounts of silica when digging and moving earth.  For generation and transmission cooperatives, NRECA requested an extension to the comment period so that interested parties can review the supporting materials that OSHA took the past 10 years to develop.  NRECA also stressed the importance of a phased implementation process to provide time for planning and coordination with testing labs.  Electric Co-op Today has the full story.

Back to top