1910.1053(g): Respiratory Protection for Silica
Where this silica standard requires respirators, employers must provide each worker an appropriate respirator meeting 29 CFR 1910.134. Respirators are required while controls are being installed, for tasks where controls are not feasible, when all feasible controls still do not keep exposure at or below the PEL, and while in a regulated area, and a respiratory protection program is required.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1053(g) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 98 times in the last 3 years, in 89 inspections, with $243,235 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: IL (14), FL (10), AL (7).
- Related part: 1910.1053(g)(2) Respiratory protection program (72 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1053(g) ("Respiratory protection") is one requirement inside 1910.1053 Respirable crystalline silica, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910). It includes 6 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
(g) Respiratory protection — 98 citations
(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: Open (g)(1) 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
(2) Respiratory protection program. Where respirator use is required by this section, the employer shall institute a respiratory protection program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134. Open (g)(2) 72 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(g).
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 | 48 |
| 2025 | 28 |
| 2026 | 17 |
Top states: IL (14), FL (10), AL (7), MI (6), PA (6)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| GENERAL SHALE BRICK, INC. | WATSONTOWN, PA | $165,514 |
| ALUDYNE COLUMBUS, LLC | COLUMBUS, GA | $11,292 |
| CHEROKEE BRICK & TILE COMPANY | MACON, GA | $9,488 |
| HILLTOP SLATE, INC. | MIDDLE GRANVILLE, NY | $8,388 |
| ROCK FIN COUNTERTOPS, INC. | HOUSTON, TX | $8,067 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1053(g), 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)(2) Respiratory protection program 72 citations
- 1910.1053(g)(1) General 26 citations
- 1910.1053(g)(1)(iii) 4 citations
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Frequently asked questions
When is a respirator required under the silica rule?
When exposures exceed the PEL while controls are being installed or where controls are not feasible, when feasible controls are not enough, and during periods in a regulated area.
What respirator must be provided?
An appropriate respirator that complies with this paragraph and 29 CFR 1910.134.
Is a written program needed?
Yes. The employer must institute a respiratory protection program under 1910.134.
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.