1910.1053(f)(1): Silica Engineering and Work Practice Controls
Employers must use engineering and work practice controls to reduce and keep silica exposure to or below the PEL, unless they can show such controls are not feasible. Where feasible controls are not enough, they must still use them to reduce exposure to the lowest feasible level and add respiratory protection meeting paragraph (g).
Key takeaways
- 1910.1053(f)(1) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 117 times in the last 3 years, in 117 inspections, with $39,706 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: IL (15), PA (13), GA (9).
- Related part: 1910.1053(f) Methods of compliance (505 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1053(f)(1) ("Engineering and work practice controls") 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) Engineering and work practice controls. The employer shall use engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica to or below the PEL, unless the employer can demonstrate that such controls are not feasible. Wherever such feasible engineering and work practice controls are not sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the PEL, the employer shall nonetheless use them to reduce employee exposure to the lowest feasible level and shall supplement them with the use of respiratory protection that complies with the requirements of paragraph (g) of this section. 117 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(f)(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 | 7 |
| 2024 | 53 |
| 2025 | 36 |
| 2026 | 21 |
Top states: IL (15), PA (13), GA (9), OH (7), NC (7)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| ART STONE-GRANITE & MARBLE, INC. | MARIETTA, GA | $7,530 |
| HENRY BRICK COMPANY, INC. | SELMA, AL | $5,759 |
| QUARRYCUT INC. | PARKER FORD, PA | $4,614 |
| PEACOCK PAVERS ACQUISITION, LLC | ATMORE, AL | $4,221 |
| TNT SERVICES CORP | MONTROSE, PA | $3,972 |
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1053(f)(1), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1053(f) Methods of compliance 505 citations
- 1910.1053(f)(2) Written exposure control plan 383 citations
- 1910.1053(f)(2)(i) 360 citations
- 1910.1053(f)(2)(ii) 14 citations
- 1910.1053(f)(2)(i)(A) 10 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What must employers use first to control silica?
Engineering and work practice controls.
What if controls do not get below the PEL?
They must still be used to reduce exposure to the lowest feasible level, supplemented with respiratory protection.
Can respirators replace engineering controls?
No. Respirators supplement feasible controls; they do not replace them.
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.