OSHA Dusts Off Silica Paperwork for Another Round
Published Date: 12/17/2025
Notice
Summary
OSHA is asking for public feedback to keep collecting paperwork from businesses about protecting workers from harmful silica dust in general industry, shipyards, and construction. This extension means employers will keep tracking and reporting silica safety info, helping keep workers safe without adding new costs. Comments are open until February 17, 2026, so now’s the time to speak up!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Employers keep silica paperwork requirements
Employers in general industry, shipyards, and construction must continue collecting and keeping records required by the Respirable Crystalline Silica Standards, including exposure assessments, written exposure control plans, air quality permit notifications, respiratory protection programs, fit-test records, and medical surveillance records. OSHA is requesting extension of OMB approval so these paperwork and recordkeeping duties remain in place rather than being discontinued.
Workers retain medical surveillance and record access
The rule requires employers to continue providing medical surveillance, giving employees copies of written medical opinions and medical exam results, and making air monitoring and medical surveillance records available to workers and designated representatives. These provisions help workers learn about exposure assessments and the results of medical exams under the silica standards.
Estimated paperwork hours rise nationwide
OSHA requests an adjustment increasing estimated burden hours by 390,697 hours, raising total estimated burden from 7,796,128 hours to 8,186,825 hours for the silica information collections. The increase is mainly tied to a higher estimate of construction establishments and a changed method for counting employees getting periodic medical exams.
Estimated O&M costs fall by $40.9 million
OSHA is requesting an adjustment that decreases estimated operation and maintenance costs by $40,884,305, lowering the estimate from $261,709,625 to $220,825,320. The reduction reflects updated unit cost estimates for direct medical costs using the 2025 CMS Physician Fee Schedule for medical examinations under medical surveillance.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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Previous: 2025-23058, Crawler, Locomotive, and Truck Cranes Standard; Extension of the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Approval of Information Collection (Paperwork) Requirements
OSHA is asking for public feedback to keep the paperwork rules for companies using crawler, locomotive, and truck cranes. This extension means employers will keep following the same info collection rules, with no new costs or changes. Comments are open until February 17, 2026, so crane operators and companies should speak up if they want to.
Next: 2025-23060, Manlifts Standard; Extension of the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Approval of Information Collection (Paperwork) Requirements
OSHA is asking for public feedback to keep the paperwork rules for manlifts going strong. This affects employers who use manlifts, making sure they keep up with safety info collection without extra hassle. Comments are open until February 17, 2026, with no new costs or big changes planned—just a smooth extension of current rules.