Murray Statement on New Administration Efforts to Protect Workers from Hazardous Dust

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement on the Department of Labor’s announcement of a final, updated rule on workers’ exposure to respirable crystalline silica.

“Our workers should not have to risk their health or safety in order to earn their paychecks—but for far too long, millions of workers have been exposed to hazardous silica dust that can cause lung cancer, kidney disease, and other life-threatening illnesses. I’m pleased that today, the Department of Labor is announcing strong steps to protect workers from these threats, and I look forward to continued work to implement this rule and improve health and safety for workers in Washington state and across the country.”

The Department of Labor estimates that approximately 2.3 million workers are exposed to crystalline silica in the workplace. When inhaled, crystalline silica particles can cause illnesses including an incurable lung disease called silicosis, as well as lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and kidney disease.