Industry Groups Oppose Restrictions on Worker Exposure to Carcinogens. « Houston Accident Attorney | Texas Personal Injury Lawyer Houston

Industry Groups Oppose Restrictions on Worker Exposure to Carcinogens.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is considering restricting worker exposure to crystalline silica, a known carcinogen that workers in general industry and maritime industries are frequently exposed to. However, industry groups are opposing the agency’s efforts.

Over the past decade, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been trying to restrict worker exposure to the carcinogen. Crystalline silica is a common element in the earth, and workers in the construction industry, the maritime industry and general industry may be exposed to the carcinogen. This carcinogen in its respirable form is associated with silicosis, lung cancer, respiratory diseases as well as pulmonary tuberculosis.

Current restrictions on worker exposure to crystalline silica set a limit of 0.1 mg per meters cubed for respirable silica particles. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration wants to strengthen those restrictions, further limiting exposure. However, industry groups are opposed to those proposals, claiming that the current rules work very well to protect workers. In 2011 alone, at least thirteen trade groups and lobbying firms have been meeting with lawmakers to block the proposals.

The proposals have been stalled in the Office Of Management And Budget for close to 300 days. There is no information yet about what the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s new proposal would entail, but the belief is that it would restrict exposure to .05 mg per meters cubed. Industry officials claim that those levels are simply not detectable.

Vuk Vujasinovic is a Houston work injury lawyer, representing workers who have suffered occupational diseases as a result of exposure to dangerous toxins and chemicals in the construction sector and general industry.