OAR 437-002-1054: Definitions

For the purposes of this subdivision the following definitions apply: (1) Action level means a concentration of airborne respirable crystalline silica of 25 μg/m3, calculated as an 8-hour TWA. (2) Competent person means an individual who is capable of identifying existing and foreseeable respirable crystalline silica hazards in the workplace and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate or minimize them. The competent person must have the knowledge and ability necessary to fulfill the responsibilities set forth in this subdivision. (3) Employee exposure means the exposure to airborne respirable crystalline silica that would occur if the employee were not using a respirator. (4) High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter means a filter that is at least 99.97 percent efficient in removing monodispersed particles of 0.3 micrometers in diameter. (5) Objective data means information, such as air monitoring data from industry-wide surveys or calculations based on the composition of a substance, demonstrating employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica associated with a particular product or material or a specific process, task, or activity. The data must reflect workplace conditions closely resembling or with a higher exposure potential than the processes, types of material, control methods, work practices, and environmental conditions in the employer’s current operations. (6) Permissible exposure limit (PEL) means a concentration of airborne respirable crystalline silica of 50 μg/m3, calculated as an 8-hour TWA. (7) Physician or other licensed health care professional (PLHCP) means an individual whose legally permitted scope of practice (i.e., license, registration, or certification) allows him or her to independently provide or be delegated the responsibility to provide some or all of the particular health care services required by 437-002-1062. (8) Regulated area means an area, demarcated by the employer, where an employee’s exposure to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica exceeds, or can reasonably be expected to exceed, the PEL. (9) Respirable crystalline silica means quartz, cristobalite, and/or tridymite contained in airborne particles that are determined to be respirable by a sampling device designed to meet the characteristics for respirable-particle size-selective samplers specified in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 7708:1995: Air Quality — Particle Size Fraction Definitions for Health-Related Sampling. (10) Specialist means an American Board Certified Specialist in Pulmonary Disease or an American Board Certified Specialist in Occupational Medicine.