24/7 Safety Consultation
WORKSAFE 
24/7 Safety Consultation
Don't Forget About the Respirator Rules!

The hot topic in construction safety recently is silica dust, how it will affect the way work is accomplished, and how it will affect our workers. One of the preventative measures used in silica dust exposure is to wear a respirator when wet methods can't keep the dust down, but unfortunately, many contractors have ignored OSHA's respiratory protection regulation ( Subpart I of the General Industry 1910.134 rules ).

Wearing a respirator is a lot more complicated than just pulling one out of the box and putting it on. It requires that a worker be cleared by a physician before being required to wear a paper dust mask or other respirator. The physician's permission must be given even before a fit test is administered. OSHA has made it somewhat easy to get the doctor's permission by publishing a health questionnaire that the worker completes and sends to the physician, which is located in Appendix C of the Standard. The employer must send information to the physician as well, including the type of respirator the worker must wear, how long during the day it will be worn, and what hazards the worker is being protected from. The physician looks at both documents to determine if the worker should be seen in person or if the worker is good to go. Once the physician gives the OK, then the worker must be trained and fit-tested on the type of respirator that the employer has selected to protect against the hazard. If a physician has not given permission for a worker to wear a respirator of any kind, then the worker could be susceptible to injury and a citation could be issued. In addition, if an employee wears a respirator voluntarily, meaning the conditions don't require a respirator, then the employer must follow Appendix D of the Standard which doesn't require the physician's permission but does require that the employee understand limitations of the respirator.

Contact one of our safety professionals today to train and fit-test your employees to properly wear a respirator. Please note that each employer is still required to get a physician's permission first.
OSHA Publishes Silica Enforcement Guidelines

At the end of October, OSHA published a memorandum entitled " Interim Enforcement Guidance for the Respirable Crystalline Silica in Construction Standard, 26 CFR 1926.1153". This memorandum is an informative resource for construction companies, as it explains companies' requirements under the new silcia ruling. In addition, the memo provides inspection and citation guidance for officials to assess employers' efforts to control workers' exposure to silica.
ProfessionalsSafety Professionals
Brandon Black - (515) 577-5198 or Brandon@IowaCSSI.com 
Troy Porter - (515) 681-5252 or Troy@IowaCSSI.com
Tom Suckow - (515) 250-0773 or Tom@IowaCSSI.com
New WORKSAFE Projects

PROJECT:
East Dock Expansion
CONTRACTOR:

Hy-Vee Construction, LC - Des Moines, IA

PROJECT:
Lutheran Church of Hope - Grimes
CONTRACTOR:

The Hansen Company, Inc. - Johnston, IA

PROJECT:
Capital View Credit Union
CONTRACTOR:

Kirk Gross Company - Waterloo, IA

PROJECT:
Primary Care - Logan Plaza
CONTRACTOR:

Kirk Gross Company - Waterloo, IA

PROJECT:
University of Iowa Building Renovate First and Second Floor Labs
CONTRACTOR:

Conlon Construction Co. - Dubuque, IA

PROJECT:
Stew and LeNore Hansen Football Performance Center
CONTRACTOR:

Conlon Construction Co. - Dubuque, IA

PROJECT:
First United Methodist Church of North Liberty - Sanctuary & Education Addition
CONTRACTOR:

Merit Construction Co. - Cedar Rapids, IA

PROJECT:
ISU Utility Power Plant Stoker Building Repairs
CONTRACTOR:

Henkel Construction Co. - Mason City, IA

PROJECT:
Graham Broadway Warehouse 1
CONTRACTOR:

Graham Construction Co. - Des Moines, IA


WORKSAFE is a partnership between Master Builders of Iowa and Iowa OSHA, with safety services provided by Construction Safety Specialists, Inc.

For more information on the WORKSAFE program or for safety inquiries, please contact Tom Suckow at 515-657-4384 or Tom@IowaCSSI.com
WORKSAFE | 515-657-4384 | Email | Website