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In an effort to help contractors comply with its new Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard for Construction, OSHA has released instructional videos and other free educational materials about the topic. Click here to go to the OSHA website. Some of the aids provided by the agency include a customizable slideshow presentation to help employers train construction workers; a short YouTube video about how to protect employees from silica dust; a video series on dust control methods for common construction tasks; and a website with answers to frequently asked questions. The rule went into effect for the construction industry on Sept. 23, 2017, but OSHA delayed full enforcement by a month to Oct. 23, 2017, giving employers more time to comply and the agency more time to develop detailed enforcement guidelines. The deadline for laboratory evaluation of exposure samples started on June 23, 2018. OSHA reported in May that the most frequently issued citation for violations of the silica rule was the failure on the part of contractors to measure silica dust levels, followed by adherence to recommended alternate air monitoring methods. Make sure you're in compliance with the rule! Use the tools provided above to assist you and/or utilize ECA's safety consultant to assist you with meeting the requirements. Contact Laura (lauras@ecainc.org / 518-869-0961) for more information.