Harkin Applauds OSHA Rule to Address Silica Exposure

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today issued the following statement welcoming an OSHA proposed rule aimed at protecting workers from exposure to crystalline silica.  Exposure kills hundreds of workers and sickens thousands more each year. 

"I applaud Secretary Perez and the U.S. Department of Labor for putting forward a strong proposal to address the deadly threat that silica exposure presents to the health of American workers.  This proposal is long overdue, and I hope that the remainder of the rulemaking process will proceed as expeditiously as possible.  Too many workers have died waiting for action to address this serious danger and it is long past time to take these commonsense steps to keep workers safe on the job."

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