The U.S. Department of Labor announced a new rule this week that aims to better protect workers from something called silica dust. It replaces standards that were more than 40 years old.
Silica is found in materials like sand, granite, and concrete. Breathing in too much of the dust that results from working with these materials can cause a lung disease called Silicosis and lung cancer.
The Department of Labor estimates that around 2.3 million workers like sandblasters and brick makers are exposed to silica at work.
Oil and gas workers who handle the sand used in hydraulic fracturing can be too.
The new federal rule lowers the limit of acceptable silica exposure. It also requires employers to provide respiratory protection when necessary and in some cases, medical exams.