Silica dust and architectural drawings captured the focus at the Builders Association’s latest membership meeting.
First, HILTI North America Field Engineer, Joe Cortese, outlined OSHA’s new silica dust standards. He provided its historical basis, details about the new standards, and tips to stay in compliance.
OSHA implemented a dust standard back in 1971, which held until final implementation of a new standard in September of 2017. The new standard reduces the time weighted average permissible exposure limit from 250 micrograms per cubic meter of air, over an 8-hour day, to 50 micrograms. Joe outlined three ways for employer to comply:
Compliance with “Table 1,” Objective Data Performance Testing, and Scheduled Air Monitoring Table 1 identifies common silica dust creating construction activities and the equipment used for them, engineering and work practice methods for controlling silica dust generation for the listed tasks and equipment, and the required respiratory protection for the tasks.
There are many commercially available tool accessories that would help a contractor comply with the parameters spelled out in Table 1. Choosing to use Table 1 for compliance is up to the contractor, but if it is not used then one of the other two compliance methods must be implemented for silica dust generating construction activities.
If a silica dust generating construction activity is not listed in Table 1, then one of the other two compliance methods must be implemented. Medical exams must be offered to employees who wear a respirator for 30 cumulative days per year when performing silica dust generating tasks.
There are many online resources available to learn more about the new standard and compliance.
Second, Gregg Strollo from the AXIOM architectural firm explained the design process and the criteria they use to arrive at initial conceptual designs for new office buildings.
AXIOM is in the early stages of working with The Builders Association’s Building and Grounds Committee to design a new office building. Mr. Strollo’s visual presentation included examples of different design iterations they considered during their process and a virtual fly through of the conceptual design that they chose.
All members are encouraged to take advantage of the next opportunity to interact with fellow members, gain some insights on the area construction marketplace in 2017, and hear a recap of the Builders’ year at the Builders Annual Meeting on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at the Lake Club.