Silica Rule Full Implementation Begins October 23

Words: Jeff BuczkiewiczOSHA will begin full implementation of their new silica rule on Monday, October 23, 2017. At that time, the soft roll out will end and companies will need to be in full compliance of the rule.

The MCAA is working with the Construction Industry Safety Coalition to track as many citations of the new rule as possible. We are working on developing a program that would give members access to a very short call with the silica coalition law firm to address any citations. It will be critically important that as this process begins that we track these citations.

The coalition has been very unhappy with clarity and direction on enforcement and feels full enforcement will begin a process of very different enforcement in different parts of the country which will create confusion. For that reason, we ask for your help in tracking these issues so we can address them at the national level. We are afraid that interpretation will be very broad and want to help you to make sure your OSHA officers are enforcing the rule the way it was intended.

If you get a citation, please contact the MCAA office at 800-536-2225 and ask to speak with Jeff. We will likely ask for a copy of the citation and move forward with any assistance we can provide. We appreciate in advance of your help with this and we hope you don’t have to act on this request.

We have included a link to OSHA enforcement guidance for your reference.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the MCAA office 800-536-2225 or visit www.masoncontractors.org/silica.
Empower Your Team to Help Prevent Cyberattacks
August 2025

Human error contributes to 82% of data breaches, making your employees a crucial line of defense against cyber threats.1 A single mistake could expose your business to a data breach. This could lead to data loss, downtime, and a negative impact on your bo

The True Costs of Traditional Wood Bucks: Beyond the Lumber Bill
August 2025

Wood bucks have been holding up CMU block on masonry jobs for decades now, albeit precariously. This infamous lumber has been sawed, screwed, braced, and cursed more often than anyone would want to count. For something meant to be temporary, they have cle

Remembering Kevin O'Shea
August 2025

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Kevin O'Shea, a treasured figure in the industry, who passed on August 13th, at the age of 64. Kevin was not only the Safety Director at Hydro Mobile but also the Chair of the Safety Committee fo

MASONRY STRONG Podcast, Episode 27 Recap: Chris Bettinger, Oldcastle Coastal
August 2025

Chris Bettinger's journey into masonry wasn't a deliberate choice but rather a confluence of unexpected life events and career shifts. With an architecture degree from the University of Michigan, Chris began his career in residential design. However, the