1910.1053(g)(1): When Silica Respirators Are Required
Where respirators are required for respirable crystalline silica, employers must provide each employee an appropriate respirator meeting this rule and 1910.134. Respirators are required where exposures exceed the PEL while feasible controls are being installed or during tasks where controls are not feasible, when all feasible controls still do not get exposure to or below the PEL, and during periods in a regulated area.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1053(g)(1) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 26 times in the last 3 years, in 26 inspections, with $184,208 in current penalties.
- Most citations: NY (3), TN (3), MI (2).
- Related part: 1910.1053(g) Respiratory protection (98 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1053(g)(1) ("General") is one requirement inside 1910.1053 Respirable crystalline silica, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910). It includes 4 sub-paragraphs. 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) General. Where respiratory protection is required by this section, the employer must provide each employee an appropriate respirator that complies with the requirements of this paragraph and 29 CFR 1910.134. Respiratory protection is required: 26 citations
(i) Where exposures exceed the PEL during periods necessary to install or implement feasible engineering and work practice controls; 6 citations
(ii) Where exposures exceed the PEL during tasks, such as certain maintenance and repair tasks, for which engineering and work practice controls are not feasible;
(iii) During tasks for which an employer has implemented all feasible engineering and work practice controls and such controls are not sufficient to reduce exposures to or below the PEL; and Open (g)(1)(iii) 4 citations
(iv) During periods when the employee is in a regulated area. 4 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1053.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 12 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 4 |
Top states: NY (3), TN (3), MI (2), MA (2), PA (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| GENERAL SHALE BRICK, INC. | WATSONTOWN, PA | $165,514 |
| THE LAKEWOOD BRICK AND TILE COMPANY | LAKEWOOD, CO | $6,000 |
| HILLTOP SLATE, INC. | MIDDLE GRANVILLE, NY | $4,194 |
| 157503 - BUECHEL STONE CORP. | MARION, NC | $3,250 |
| ROCHESTER FLOORING KITCHEN AND BATH | ROCHESTER, NY | $3,000 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1053(g)(1), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Maintenance work in a manufacturing area after silica-generating tasks have been stopped (2019-07-25)
- Monitoring options under OSHA's Respirable Crystalline Silica standard (2019-03-21)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1053(g) Respiratory protection 98 citations
- 1910.1053(g)(2) Respiratory protection program 72 citations
- 1910.1053(g)(1)(iii) 4 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
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Frequently asked questions
When must silica respirators be used?
Where exposures exceed the PEL while controls are being installed or during tasks where controls are not feasible, when feasible controls are not enough to reach the PEL, and in a regulated area.
Which respirator rule applies?
29 CFR 1910.134 along with this paragraph.
Who provides the respirator?
The employer must provide each employee an appropriate respirator.
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 2026-10-23
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.