1910.1053(e)(1): Silica Regulated Areas
Employers must set up a regulated area wherever an employee's exposure to airborne respirable crystalline silica is, or can reasonably be expected to be, in excess of the PEL.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1053(e)(1) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 70 times in the last 3 years, in 70 inspections, with $105,019 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: FL (8), PA (7), MA (5).
- Related part: 1910.1053(e) Regulated areas (116 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1053(e)(1) ("Establishment") is one requirement inside 1910.1053 Respirable crystalline silica, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910). The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(1) Establishment. The employer shall establish a regulated area wherever an employee's exposure to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica is, or can reasonably be expected to be, in excess of the PEL. 70 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1053.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.1053(e)(1).
At 1:08 p.m. on March 20, 2024, an employee died of silicosis from occupational exposure.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 34 |
| 2025 | 21 |
| 2026 | 10 |
Top states: FL (8), PA (7), MA (5), IL (5), NY (5)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| LIBERTY CASTING COMPANY, LLC | DELAWARE, OH | $18,563 |
| GENERAL SHALE BRICK, INC. | WATSONTOWN, PA | $16,550 |
| ART STONE-GRANITE & MARBLE, INC. | MARIETTA, GA | $7,530 |
| SIGMA ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS | MARKESAN, WI | $6,914 |
| SOLIDSURFACE DESIGN | PENNSAUKEN, NJ | $6,690 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1053(e)(1), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.1053(e)(1).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1053(e) Regulated areas 116 citations
- 1910.1053(e)(2) Demarcation 39 citations
- 1910.1053(e)(2)(ii) 25 citations
- 1910.1053(e)(2)(i) 14 citations
- 1910.1053(e)(4) Provision of respirators 7 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
When is a silica regulated area required?
Wherever an employee's exposure to airborne respirable crystalline silica is, or can reasonably be expected to be, in excess of the PEL.
Does exposure have to be measured first?
No. A regulated area is also required where exposure can reasonably be expected to be over the PEL.
Who must set up the regulated area?
The employer.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.1053 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.