Proposed OSHA rule decreases PEL

Words: Jeff BuczkiewiczOSHA released their proposed rule on silica this afternoon. The new rule is decreasing the PEL to .50 and the remediation level to .25. In addition OSHA has a general industry rule and a construction industry rule.

The MCAA is a part of a recently reformed construction industry coalition that will be responding to the released rule and will be submitting written response and representatives at meetings regarding the rule. The coalition recently hired the law firm of Jackson Lewis out of Washington, D.C. to spearhead not only our rule response, but also to facilitate an industry economic impact study.

The lead person with Jackson Lewis is Bradford Hammock a longtime veteran of the Department of Labor rule writing process and response. His last major effort while with the Department of Labor was handling the industry response to the Ergonomics rule. Expect to see news releases in near future from the coalition. Jackson Lewis will be coordinating the communications and that effort.

Members of the Silica Construction Coalition include ABC, AGC, ARTBA, Mechanical Contractors Association, NAHB, NECA, NRCA,ICE, ASA, and your MCAA.

Please feel free to review the information OSHA has provided about their rule at www.osha.gov/silica.

If you have any questions, concerns or comments, feel free to contact Jeff Buczkiewicz, President/CEO of the MCAA at jeffb@masoncontractors.org.
The Behind-the-Wall Secrets Every Mason Already Knows (But Some Ignore)
May 2026

You’ve been around long enough to know this already: stone doesn’t fail on the face; it fails behind the wall. You can lay the prettiest veneer in the county, but if the prep is junk, that wall’s gonna start telling on you after a couple of winters. Manu

Masonry Innovation in Action: Belden Brick’s Glazed Thin Brick Redefines Design Possibilities
May 2026

Masonry innovation is pivotal in shaping the built environment, and The Belden Brick Company is at the forefront of this evolution. Architects, designers, and contractors increasingly seek materials that marry high performance with bold aesthetics, and Be

Celebrating Craftsmanship and Country
May 2026

The 250th anniversary of the United States is more than a date. It is a reflection of centuries of progress, innovation, and determination. STABILA has chosen to mark this milestone with a product that mirrors those same qualities. The Patriot Series Maso

Rethinking Shelf Angle Design for High-Performance Masonry Walls
May 2026

If you've been around masonry construction long enough, you know the shelf angle is one of those details that’s easy to take for granted. It’s been used the same way for decades, set it at the slab edge, support the veneer, move on. But as building requir