Although OSHA has considered updating the crystalline silica exposure standard a top priority for over ten years, the process is beginning to wear thin on Congressional Committee representatives with jurisdiction over worker safety and health.  The agency continues to state that silica remains a serious threat to more than two million U.S. workers, including a significant number of high-risk jobs in the construction industry.  OSHA has evidence that exposure to crystalline silica at the current permissible exposure limit (PEL) causes silicosis and other diseases and has been seeking to comprehensively regulate the substance and reduce the PEL for over a decade.  Although complicated due to the broad scope of the rule and the number of industries that use silica in their operations (stakeholders in the process), OSHA’s proposal has been languishing at the Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Information and Regulatory Analysis (OIRA) since it was received in February of 2011.  The lack of responsiveness has generated a joint letter (February 27, 2013) from four congressmen to the Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget reiterates their frustration with a process that typically requires a 90 or 120 day review as opposed to over 2 years in delays while the number of deaths from silicosis continues to rise.  In addition to stating their concerns, the letter has requested the OIRA complete its review of the draft silica rule as promptly as possible and by March 30, 2013 provide the congressmen a specific date the review will be completed.  Is this lip service to concerned constituents or actual regulatory movement on a worker protection issue that OSHA’s own preliminary analysis indicates would prevent approximately 60 deaths per year from lung cancer and silicosis?  Hopefully we won’t have to wait another 10 years to find out.