Silica Rule Changes Delayed While Workers Face Health Risks

Silica Rule Changes Delayed While Workers Face Health Risks Enlarge this image toggle caption Ty Wright/Bloomberg via Getty Images Ty Wright/Bloomberg via Getty Images One of the oldest known workplace dangers is breathing in tiny bits of silica, which is basically sand. "Even if 100 percent of employers kept exposures at the current standard, silica-exposed workers would still be at increased risk for lung cancer, silicosis and chronic obstructive lung disease," says Michaels. Exposures have dropped compared with the "terrible" exposures decades ago, says Michaels, "but still there are plenty of people exposed to dangerous levels, and we can't ignore that." Michaels is well aware that some worker advocates are frustrated that the White House review has gone on for almost two years "Look, I sympathize with those advocates," says Michaels.