{"id":2932,"date":"2024-04-22T12:59:04","date_gmt":"2024-04-22T16:59:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mshadefensereport.com\/?p=2932"},"modified":"2026-03-20T12:19:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T16:19:06","slug":"mshas-final-rule-for-respirable-crystalline-silica-what-is-required-and-how-long-do-operators-have-to-comply","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.connmaciel.com\/msha-defense-report\/mshas-final-rule-for-respirable-crystalline-silica-what-is-required-and-how-long-do-operators-have-to-comply\/","title":{"rendered":"MSHA&#8217;s Final Rule for Respirable Crystalline Silica: What is Required and How Long Do Operators Have to Comply?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>On April 16, 2024, the Mine Safety &amp; Health Administration\u00a0(\u201cMSHA\u201d)\u00a0released its final rule for\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/public-inspection\/2024-06920\/lowering-miners-exposure-to-respirable-crystalline-silica-and-improving-respiratory-protection\">Respirable Crystalline Silica<\/a> (\u201cRCS\u201d) for preliminary viewing, and it was published in the Federal Register on April 18, 2024. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/public-inspection\/2024-06920\/lowering-miners-exposure-to-respirable-crystalline-silica-and-improving-respiratory-protection\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Federal Register Msha 300x250\" class=\" wp-image-2934 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/mshadefensereport.connmaciel.stagingarea.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/Federal-Register-MSHA-300x250.png\" alt=\"Federal Register Msha 300x250\" width=\"374\" height=\"311\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.connmaciel.com\/msha-defense-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/Federal-Register-MSHA-300x250.png 300w, https:\/\/www.connmaciel.com\/msha-defense-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/Federal-Register-MSHA.png 626w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 374px) 100vw, 374px\" \/><\/a>While an update to\u00a0MSHA\u2019s\u00a0silica regulations has been in the works for most of the 21st century, getting from this proposed rule to the final form moved very quickly from a rulemaking perspective. With the rule, MSHA seeks to protect mine workers from occupational exposure to RCS, including quartz, cristobalite,\u00a0and\/or\u00a0tridymite.<\/p>\n<p>The rule imposes stringent new requirements on operators, including a reduced Permissible Exposure Limit of 50 \u00b5g\/m\u00b3, mandatory sampling, regular written evaluations of operations (even when there are no changes to the process, equipment, or mined mineral), the adoption of respiratory protection programs, and medical surveillance programs for Metal\/Nonmetal\u00a0mines.<\/p>\n<p>The rule will become effective on June 17, 2024.\u00a0MSHA had\u00a0originally proposed\u00a0that mine operators begin compliance 120 days after the\u00a0rule\u2019s\u00a0effective date,\u00a0but to balance\u00a0miners\u2019\u00a0safety and health with mine\u00a0operators\u2019\u00a0preparations in implementing the new requirements, MSHA has set the following new deadlines by which mine operators must comply:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Coal mine operators:\u00a0April 14, 2025<\/li>\n<li>Metal\/Nonmetal\u00a0operators: April 8, 2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The extended compliance period will allow operators to learn the new\u00a0regulation\u2019s\u00a0subparts, evaluate its application to their mine(s), develop the necessary programs,\u00a0and\u00a0acquire sampling materials or coordinate with third parties to conduct sampling. The roughly two-year compliance period for MNM matches the General Industry compliance grace period from when OSHA finalized its updated silica regulation in 2016. MSHA granted more time to MNM mine operators citing that MNM mines do not have the\u00a0same\u00a0robust existing sampling requirements as have been in place in the Coal industry for years, and additional time would be needed or the MNM operations to develop and implement compliant programs, while also giving sampling and medical surveillance infrastructure time to expand for the new demands. .<\/p>\n<p>Here are some key takeaways from the proposed rule:<!--more--><\/p>\n<h5>Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) and Action Level\u00a0(AL)<\/h5>\n<p>MSHA maintained the Permissible Exposure Limit (\u201cPEL\u201d) and Action Level\u00a0(\u201cAL\u201d) that it\u00a0released in the proposed rule.\u00a0This\u00a0was widely anticipated,\u00a0and\u00a0the levels match the PEL and AL from\u00a0OSHA\u2019s\u00a02016 Respirable Crystalline Silica rule.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>The final rule unsurprisingly retained the proposed PEL for all miners at 50 \u00b5g\/m\u00b3 &#8211; calculated as a Time-Weighted Average over an 8-hour shift.\u00a0This\u00a0is approximately a 50% reduction from the existing MNM PEL of ~100 \u00b5g\/m\u00b3.<\/li>\n<li>MSHA also imposes an AL of 25 \u00b5g\/m\u00b3 as an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average, which triggers quarterly sampling until two consecutive samples are collected \u2013 more than\u00a07\u00a0days apart \u2013 under the AL.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5>Sampling<\/h5>\n<p>MSHA revised several aspects of its sampling requirements from the proposed to the final rule. For starters, MSHA deleted the terms\u00a0\u201cBaseline\u201d\u00a0or\u00a0\u201cPeriodic\u201d\u00a0sampling, now just referring to\u00a0\u201cSampling\u201d\u00a0in \u00a760.12. MSHA also dropped the option for operators to rely on\u00a0\u201cHistoric\u201d\u00a0or\u00a0\u201cObjective\u201d\u00a0data points to verify a first sample that came back under the AL. Now, all operators\u00a0will need to\u00a0collect two consecutive samples below the AL for each position -or representative sample \u2013 in which miners are reasonably expected to be exposed to RCS to comply with the rule at the start.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Shutterstock 228156631 300x232\" class=\" wp-image-2940 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/mshadefensereport.connmaciel.stagingarea.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/shutterstock_228156631-300x232.jpg\" alt=\"Shutterstock 228156631 300x232\" width=\"421\" height=\"326\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.connmaciel.com\/msha-defense-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/shutterstock_228156631-300x232.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.connmaciel.com\/msha-defense-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/shutterstock_228156631-1024x793.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.connmaciel.com\/msha-defense-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/shutterstock_228156631-768x595.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.connmaciel.com\/msha-defense-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/shutterstock_228156631-1536x1189.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.connmaciel.com\/msha-defense-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/shutterstock_228156631-2048x1586.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.connmaciel.com\/msha-defense-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/shutterstock_228156631-1680x1301.jpg 1680w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 421px) 100vw, 421px\" \/>A hugely consequential change in the final rule, MSHA included a provision in \u00a760.12(b) that\u00a0\u201c[t]he mine operator shall immediately report all operator samples over the PEL to the MSHA District Manager or to any other MSHA office designated by the District Manager.\u201d\u00a0MSHA claims in the preamble that this is for the multiple purposes of monitoring corrective actions, offering compliance assistance, and\u00a0\u2013 on\u00a0a case-by-case basis\u00a0\u2013 issuing\u00a0enforcement citations. However, elsewhere in the preamble and in the context of temporary use of respiratory protection, MSHA states:\u00a0\u201cMNM operators will\u00a0be cited\u00a0for the overexposure.\u201d\u00a0This provision, which was nowhere to be found in the proposed rule, essentially requires operators to submit any exceedances of the PEL to\u00a0MSHA,\u00a0so the agency may issue a citation without collecting any samples or data of its\u00a0own,\u00a0or even being on-site.<\/p>\n<p>By the compliance date, mine operators must begin sampling exposure levels for each miner\u00a0\u201cwho is or may reasonably\u00a0be expected\u00a0to\u00a0be exposed\u00a0to respirable crystalline silica.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>MSHA anticipates that at least all miners involved in processing or extraction\u00a0are reasonably expected\u00a0to\u00a0be exposed\u00a0to RCS, but this also includes miners not included in processing or extraction, if they are exposed.\u00a0Mine\u00a0operators\u2019\u00a0responsibilities concerning these initial samples include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>If the sampling is below the AL:\u00a0Take at least one more sample within\u00a03\u00a0months.\n<ul>\n<li>MSHA removed the option to rely on a sample from the prior 12 months (collected by MSHA or the operator). MSHA also removed the option to rely upon\u00a0\u201cobjective data\u201d\u00a0to confirm an initial sample below the AL. Operators must collect a second sample.<\/li>\n<li>Operators may conduct representative sampling, but that definition is limited to\u00a0\u201cminers performing the same tasks on the same shift and in the same work area.\u201d\u00a0Accordingly, even if an operator has miners in the same job position, completing the same\u00a0tasks,\u00a0in the same area, but on multiple shifts, the operator will need to collect a representative sample from\u00a0a miner\u00a0on each shift.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If the most recent sample is at\/above the AL but below the\u00a0PEL:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Operators must collect a sample every\u00a03\u00a0months until\u00a02\u00a0consecutive samples show exposures below the AL, similar to OSHA requirements.<\/li>\n<li>The second of the\u00a0twoconsecutive samples must be taken\u00a0after receiving the results of the previous sample but not sooner than\u00a07\u00a0days after\u00a0the previous sample was taken.<\/li>\n<li>To meet this 2-consecutive-samples condition, the first sample cannot be an MSHA sample followed by the\u00a0operator\u2019s\u00a0sample, though\u00a0the reverse would be acceptable (because\u00a0MSHA&#8217;s\u00a0sampling would be for a targeted group of miners, whereas the operator-conducted sample would be for a larger group.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If the most recent sample is above the PEL:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Immediately report the over-exposure to MSHA.<\/li>\n<li>Take corrective action (see below for more detail).<\/li>\n<li>Sample until exposures are at or below the AL.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Mine operators must sample for RCS using respirable particle size-selective samples in conformity with consensus standard ISO 7708:1995 and must\u00a0use personal breathing-zone air samples for MNM miners and occupational environmental samples for coal miners.<\/p>\n<h5>Periodic Evaluation<\/h5>\n<p>Mine operators must also periodically evaluate their processes and equipment for exposure to silica. Written evaluations must\u00a0be completed:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Every six months after commencing sampling (as described above);\u00a0or<\/li>\n<li>When there is a change in production, processes, installation, and maintenance of engineering controls, installation and maintenance of equipment, administrative controls, or geological conditions, to evaluate whether\u00a0any changes may reasonably be expected\u00a0to cause new or increased exposures.<\/li>\n<li>Operators must create a record of the evaluation, including a description of the evaluated change, its impact on RCS exposure, and the\u00a0date of the evaluation.<\/li>\n<li>If the evaluation indicates a\u00a0change\u00a0that has the potential to increase miner exposure above the AL, miners should conduct post-evaluation and\u00a0then engage in the follow-up sampling protocols outlined above.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5>Corrective Action<\/h5>\n<p>This rule focuses heavily on corrective actions, namely\u00a0the development and implementation of\u00a0engineering controls.\u00a0MSHA maintained this focus from the proposal to the final rule. Corrective actions are mandatory and must be initiated immediately following a sample result above the PEL. Operators will need to document their corrective actions and once\u00a0implemented,\u00a0collect additional samples to determine the effectiveness of the actions taken.\u00a0If the results continue to show exceedances of the PEL,\u00a0additional corrective measures must be taken by the operator until samples begin coming\u00a0back below the PEL.<\/p>\n<p>MSHA\u2019s\u00a0proposed rule is meant to drive engineering controls\u00a0and states\u00a0that\u00a0\u201cmine\u00a0operators must install, use, and maintain feasible engineering and administrative controls to keep\u00a0miners\u2019\u00a0exposure to respirable crystalline silica below the proposed PEL.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Engineering controls suppress, dilute, divert, or capture the dust. <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Shutterstock 1785283790 300x200\" class=\" wp-image-2941 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/mshadefensereport.connmaciel.stagingarea.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/shutterstock_1785283790-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Shutterstock 1785283790 300x200\" width=\"428\" height=\"285\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.connmaciel.com\/msha-defense-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/shutterstock_1785283790-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.connmaciel.com\/msha-defense-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/shutterstock_1785283790-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.connmaciel.com\/msha-defense-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/shutterstock_1785283790-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.connmaciel.com\/msha-defense-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/shutterstock_1785283790-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.connmaciel.com\/msha-defense-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/shutterstock_1785283790-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.connmaciel.com\/msha-defense-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/shutterstock_1785283790-480x320.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.connmaciel.com\/msha-defense-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/shutterstock_1785283790-825x550.jpg 825w, https:\/\/www.connmaciel.com\/msha-defense-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/shutterstock_1785283790-874x582.jpg 874w, https:\/\/www.connmaciel.com\/msha-defense-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/shutterstock_1785283790-1680x1120.jpg 1680w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 428px) 100vw, 428px\" \/>This\u00a0might include ventilation systems, dust suppression devices, enclosed cabs with filtered breathing air, and changes in materials handling or equipment used.<\/p>\n<p>MSHA expressly prohibits compliance through the administrative control of rotating miners among different tasks or locations to keep exposures below the PEL.\u00a0MSHA deems rotation ineffective because it fails to address the root cause of the hazard, requires the mine\u00a0operator\u2019s\u00a0continuous attention, and increases risks to more miners.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, respirators are not acceptable means of compliance or corrective action.\u00a0Rather, respiratory protection may only be used\u00a0as a temporary measure\u00a0or under non-routine, limited conditions for MNM operators.\u00a0MSHA cites occasional entry into hazardous atmospheres for maintenance or investigation as a situation where respirators could be necessary.<\/p>\n<p>When respirators\u00a0are used, the operator must have in place a respiratory protection program that meets ASTM F3387-19, which has\u00a0been incorporated\u00a0by reference into this rule. But this is a necessity\u00a0just\u00a0to comply with the regulation because in the event of a sample result above the PEL, miners working in the area must be in respiratory protection by the next shift.\u00a0It\u00a0will not\u00a0be possible to have miners in respirators by the next\u00a0shift\u00a0under a compliant respiratory protection\u00a0program\u00a0without having it in place well in advance.<\/p>\n<p>If any sampling shows an exposure in excess of the PEL, mine operators must:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Make\u00a0available NIOSH-approved respirators for the affected miner(s) before the start of the next work shift. These must be Series 100 or more protective, N95s\u00a0will not comply.<\/li>\n<li>Ensure affected miner(s) correctly wear the respirators for the\u00a0full\u00a0shift or during the period of\u00a0overexposure,\u00a0until exposures are at or below the PEL (MSHA is clear that respirator use is only an interim protective measure until engineering controls are in place.)<\/li>\n<li>Immediatelytake corrective action \u2013 other than respirator usage \u2013\u00a0to bring the exposure at or below the PEL.<\/li>\n<li>Immediately notify its MSHA District Manager or the District Manager\u2019s designee of the overexposure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5>Medical Surveillance\/Examination \u2013 Specifically for MNM mines<\/h5>\n<p>MSHA maintained its provision from the proposed rule that MNM operators develop and begin administering a medical surveillance program for miners. MSHA already requires the coal industry to have medical surveillance programs\u00a0in place\u00a0to comply with existing regulations regarding respirable coal dust.<\/p>\n<p>For existing employed\u00a0miners,\u00a0or newly hired experienced miners, participation in the programs will be voluntary but must be offered.\u00a0For miners who are new to the\u00a0industry and\u00a0have never worked in a mine before, participation in an initial medical examination and three-year follow-up are mandatory.\u00a0After which, further participation is voluntary for each miner. However, mine operators may mandate their miners\u2019 participation in medical surveillance programs.<\/p>\n<p>All medical examinations required by the rule must be provided\u00a0at no cost to the miner and be conducted by a physician or\u00a0other licensed healthcare professional (PLHCP) or specialist.\u00a0The pulmonary function test may also\u00a0be administered\u00a0by\u00a0a pulmonary function technologist credentialed by the National Board for Respiratory Care.<\/p>\n<p>All MNM\u00a0miners\u00a0who are\u00a0new to the mining industry must undergo a\u00a0mandatory,\u00a0initial medical examination within 60 days of their employment.\u00a0A follow-up examination must then occur within three years. Within\u00a0two\u00a0years of the three-year follow-up, another follow-up examination must\u00a0occur\u00a0if the chest three-year X-ray shows evidence of pneumoconiosis, or the spirometry examination indicates evidence of decreased lung function.<\/p>\n<p>Existing miners must be given access to a voluntary examination during an initial 12-month\u00a0period.\u00a0Thereafter, miners must have access to a medical examination at least every\u00a05\u00a0years (although participation remains voluntary under the MSHA regulations but may be required by the operator).<\/p>\n<p>Within 30 days of the examination, the mine\u00a0operator is responsible for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Ensuring the care provider provides examination results to the miner and\u00a0upon\u00a0their request, to their physician or other designee.<\/li>\n<li>Ensuring the care provider submits results of the chest X-ray classifications to NIOSH (once NIOSH has implemented a reporting system).<\/li>\n<li>Obtaining from the care provider a written medical opinion that includes the examination date, confirmation that\u00a0all examination requirements were met, and any recommended limitations on the\u00a0miner\u2019s\u00a0use of respirators.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5>Recordkeeping<\/h5>\n<p>Mine operators must maintain the following records for the requisite period:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Evaluation, sampling, and corrective action records: at least\u00a05\u00a0years (this increased from 2 years in the proposed rule).<\/li>\n<li>Written determination records, written medical opinion records: duration of\u00a0miner\u2019s\u00a0employment, plus\u00a06\u00a0months.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Mine operators must grant the Secretary, miners, and authorized miner representatives prompt access to the\u00a0foregoing\u00a0records.<\/p>\n<h5>Contractors, Portable and Seasonal Operations<\/h5>\n<p>MSHA states in the final rule preamble that it will apply to contractors, portable mines, and season operations. Contractors will need to evaluate whether their employees\u00a0are reasonably expected\u00a0to\u00a0be exposed\u00a0to RCS during work at\u00a0mines\u00a0and\u00a0if\u00a0so,\u00a0ensure compliance with the regulation. MSHA expects contractors who work separately from production at multiple locations, such as drilling and blasting, to comply. The agency notes that some contractors, such as those who perform haulage services for\u00a0mines,\u00a0will fall under the compliance program of the production operator. It will be important that production operators and contractors communicate openly regarding compliance with this regulation at the outset of planning work.<\/p>\n<p>Portable and seasonal operations, likewise, are required to comply with the new rule. For portable operations, especially those working in areas for short periods, MSHA indicates that\u00a0the completion of\u00a0the periodic evaluations will be a critical element of compliance, in addition to sampling.<\/p>\n<p>For seasonal operations, MSHA will allow sampling and evaluation periods to be placed on hold when the plant shuts down, but with the expectation that as soon as operations begin again, the operator will begin collecting samples or complete its evaluations immediately.<\/p>\n<h5>Conclusion<\/h5>\n<p>This rule will be burdensome to get off the ground for many operations, especially those in MNM who do not already have established air monitoring programs. It will likely require many operators to reconfigure processes or install new dust control systems to reduce exposure sources.<\/p>\n<p>While there will undoubtedly be legal challenges to this rule, expect MSHA to vigorously defend its final form. Mine operators should therefore work diligently to meet the 2025\/2026 compliance deadlines. Those dates may seem like a long way off, but operators should begin reviewing their operations for areas that may be producing exposures in exceedance of the PEL and AL.<\/p>\n<p>Conn Maciel\u00a0Carey\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.connmaciel.com\/msha-workplace-safety\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MSHA Practice Group<\/a> will continue to monitor developments with this rule and its rollout and\u00a0be prepared\u00a0to assist operators with their work towards compliance, including a forthcoming webinar to review the rule thoroughly.<\/p>\n<p>If you have immediate questions,\u00a0please contact <a href=\"https:\/\/www.connmaciel.com\/scala\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nick Scala<\/a> (nscala@connmaciel.com).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On April 16, 2024, the Mine Safety &amp; Health Administration\u00a0(\u201cMSHA\u201d)\u00a0released its final rule for\u00a0Respirable Crystalline Silica (\u201cRCS\u201d) for preliminary viewing, and it was published in the Federal Register on April 18, 2024. While an update to\u00a0MSHA\u2019s\u00a0silica regulations&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[84],"class_list":["post-2932","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-msha-leadership-rulemaking-standards","tag-respirable-crystalline-silica"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>MSHA&#039;s Final Rule for Respirable Crystalline Silica: What is Required and How Long Do Operators Have to Comply? - MSHA Defense Report<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.connmaciel.com\/msha-defense-report\/mshas-final-rule-for-respirable-crystalline-silica-what-is-required-and-how-long-do-operators-have-to-comply\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"MSHA&#039;s Final Rule for Respirable Crystalline Silica: What is Required and How Long Do Operators Have to Comply? - MSHA Defense Report\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"On April 16, 2024, the Mine Safety &amp; Health Administration\u00a0(\u201cMSHA\u201d)\u00a0released its final rule for\u00a0Respirable Crystalline Silica (\u201cRCS\u201d) for preliminary viewing, and it was published in the Federal Register on April 18, 2024. 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