NCL welcomes long-overdue OSHA silica rule – National Consumers League
March 25, 2016
Contact: NCL Communications, Cindy Hoang, cindyh@nclnet.org, (202) 207-2832
Washington, DC–The National Consumers League (NCL), the nation’s pioneering consumer and worker advocacy organization, is welcoming news that the U.S. Department of Labor will release a long-awaited and long-overdue standard on silica. The following statement may be attributed to NCL Executive Director Sally Greenberg, who testified before the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on the issue in 2014:
An estimated 2.2 million American workers are exposed to silica dust every year, with about 1.8 million of those working in construction. Exposure can lead to silicosis, as well as increased susceptibility to lung cancer, kidney disease, and autoimmune disorders.
The current silica standards, adopted more than 40 years ago, are badly outdated, and the new silica regulations would limit levels of dust exposure for workers and prevent an estimated 1,600 new cases of silicosis.
NCL commends the DOL staff and leadership for their steadfast work to bring this rule to fruition.
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About the National Consumers League
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.
