Silica Rule Delay Endangers Workers' Health

CWA Safety and Health Director Dave LeGrande explains why we must take action on one of the oldest workplace hazards: Breathing in silica, a dust commonly found in sand, granite and other materials used in construction.

During the performance of their jobs, thousands upon thousands of U.S. workers have been exposed to harmful levels of life-threatening silica. Such preventable exposure has led to needless worker deaths, disease, and suffering. The AFL-CIO, the United Steelworkers, CWA, and several other unions have been leading an effort to have OSHA establish a comprehensive Silica Standard that would provide needed protections from silica exposure. In response, Occupational Safety and Health Administration developed a proposed silica standard and sent it to White House's Office of Management and Budget for review. However, OMB and the White House have been "reviewing" the proposed standard for over two years. 

CWA joins with the AFL-CIO and the rest of the labor movement in saying "Enough is enough. OMB and the White House should immediately finalize their review and allow the Silica Standard to be established." 

Join the petition urging the Obama administration to move forward with the silica dust standard. The petition needs 25,000 signatures by Feb. 11 to elicit a formal response from the White House. Click here to sign.