Source: https://thehill.com/, April 16, 2024
By: Zack Budryk

The Labor Department on Tuesday issued long-awaited rules governing acceptable levels of exposure to silica dust, a compound linked to terminal breathing issues in miners.

Under the final rule, the exposure limit will be lowered to 50 micrograms per cubic foot of air over the course of an eight-hour shift. It also requires metal and nonmetal mine operators to create medical surveillance programs similar to those in place for coal miners. Read more.