Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) Silica Final Rule

Overview
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) recently issued a critical new rule to reduce miners' exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and improve respiratory protection. This major regulatory update affects approximately 12,000 US mines, requiring sampling and environmental evaluations for the first time.
Key takeaways and learning objectives
Overview of the new MSHA rule on RCS exposure.
Compliance deadlines: April 2025 for coal mines, April 2026 for metal/non-metal (MNM) mines.
New Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) and Action Level for RCS.
Mine operator responsibilities for monitoring and control.
New medical surveillance requirements for MNM mines.
Updated respiratory protection standards.
Presenter information
(Speaker): Steve Meyers, Principal Consultant, specializing in health and safety compliance, BSI Consulting
(Speaker): Darrell Smith, Senior Vice President of Operations and Development, Essential Minerals Association
(Moderator): Jennifer Dobb, EHS Consultant/Manager, specializing in industrial hygiene, BSI Consulting