The Washington state Department of Labor & Industries is proposing to adopt a standard addressing respirable crystalline silica exposure in the workplace to ensure its occupational safety requirements are at least as effective as those promulgated by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

L&I said OSHA adopted crystalline silica exposure limits in June 2016. The state’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health did not have a standard specifically addressing exposure limits.

The department, therefore, is proposing to combine OSHA’s rules into a chapter of the state’s rules addressing crystalline silica exposure.

A hearing on the proposed rules will be held at 9 a.m. today at L&I's office in Tumwater. The department is accepting comments on the proposed rules until Dec. 22.

Comments can be sent to Josefina Magana, P.O. Box 44620, Olympia, WA 98504-4620.

Comments can be sent by fax to 360-902-5619, or by email to josefina.magana@lni.wa.gov.

More information is here.