Response to National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Criteria Document

Résumé

On November 7, 1995, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) received a criteria document from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) entitled Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Respirable Coal Mine Dust (Criteria Document), which contains a number of recommendations for reducing occupational health risks associated with exposures to respirable coal mine dust and crystalline silica. The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act) requires MSHA to issue a public response to such criteria documents. MSHA has determined that it will respond to the Criteria Document by developing a proposed rule to enhance protection for miners from exposure to respirable coal mine dust and crystalline silica. Although MSHA will begin preliminary work on a proposed rule, the Agency will defer full development of the rule until it can consider the broad range of recommendations expected to be issued in the fall by the Secretary's Advisory Committee to Eliminate Pneumoconiosis among Coal Mine Workers.