Public health experts call the Final Rule Governing Workplace Exposure to Crystalline Silica issued by OSHA last week “a lifesaving public health victory.” Roofers say it will increase fall hazards.
OSHA’s requirement that states who administer their own occupational safety and health agencies adopt federal provisions related to residential fall protection has the National Roofing Contractors Association hot under the collar.
By Harry Dietz and Charlotte Norgaard, National Roofing Contractors Association. A checkup on your roof system in the fall and spring can help diagnose potential problems early. NRCA recommends you hire a professional roofing contractor to assist you with checking your roof. However, NRCA realizes many homeowners prefer to perform an initial inspection themselves.
OSHA’s proposal to safeguard workers by reducing silica exposures disregards “the unique nature of roofing work” and may actually making roofers’ jobs more dangerous, according to the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA).
OSHA’s proposal to improve the tracking of workplace injuries and illnesses will either improve worker safety or pose an undue burden on employers. Those are among the reactions being voiced by safety advocates and industry groups as OSHA holds public meetings on the proposal.