Obtain your MAA Silica Guide Today as MAA Urges Members to Start Preparing for the New MSHA Silica Rule

With the new MSHA Part 60 rule set to take effect on April 8, 2026, MAA strongly urges members to begin preparations now. To help ensure compliance, MAA recommends that mine operators start air sample testing as soon as possible to confirm that miners’ exposure levels are below the action level. If these levels are exceeded, now is the time to implement engineering controls to reduce exposure.
Mine operators should also determine how they will conduct air sampling. Will your company purchase or rent sampling equipment? Or will you hire a consultant to perform the sampling? Planning these details now will help avoid complications as the compliance deadline approaches. Additionally, operators should become familiar with the medical surveillance requirements, including the necessary chest x-rays and how to coordinate with medical providers to meet these standards.

Summary of the New Rule

On April 18, 2024, MSHA issued its final rule, Lowering Miners’ Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica and Improving Respiratory Protection, to reduce miner exposure to respirable crystalline silica and improve respiratory protection for all airborne hazards. The final rule:

• Lowers the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m³) for a full shift, calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) for all miners.
• Establishes an action level for respirable crystalline silica at 25 µg/m³ for a full shift, calculated as an 8-hour TWA for all miners.
• Includes uniform requirements for controlling and monitoring exposures to respirable crystalline silica at coal and metal and nonmetal (MNM) mines.
• Adds medical surveillance requirements for MNM mines, modeled on the existing requirements for coal mines.
• Updates respiratory protection requirements by incorporating the latest advances in respiratory protection technologies and practices based on the ASTM F3387-19 Standard Practice for Respiratory Protection.

The final rule took effect on June 17, 2024. Coal mine operators have 12 months to comply with the requirements, while metal and nonmetal mine operators have 24 months (until April 8, 2026) to meet all requirements, including medical surveillance. Ensure your company is prepared now to avoid last-minute challenges next spring.

Wayne State University, with support from an MSHA grant, is offering free training on the key elements of the new silica rule and its impact on surface quarries and sand and gravel mines. This is a valuable opportunity to stay informed and ensure compliance.
 
Click here to learn more about the training and to sign up for a session.
 
To help members navigate the new rule, the MAA Safety Committee has developed a comprehensive MAA Guide for Silica Rule. To request a copy, contact Denise Koets at the MAA office by emailing dkoets@miagg.org or calling 517-381-1732.