1910.1053(k)(1): Silica Air Monitoring Records
Employers must make and keep an accurate record of all exposure measurements taken for respirable crystalline silica. Each record must include the date, task monitored, sampling and analysis methods, number, duration and results of samples, the lab used, PPE worn, and the names and job classifications of employees represented, and be kept and made available under 1910.1020.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1053(k)(1) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 18 times in the last 3 years, in 16 inspections, with $3,410 in current penalties.
- Most citations: TN (7), MI (2), OK (1).
- Related part: 1910.1053(k) Recordkeeping (19 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1053(k)(1) ("Air monitoring data") is one requirement inside 1910.1053 Respirable crystalline silica, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910). It includes 10 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) Air monitoring data. 18 citations
(i) The employer shall make and maintain an accurate record of all exposure measurements taken to assess employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica, as prescribed in paragraph (d) of this section. 8 citations
(ii) This record shall include at least the following information: Open (k)(1)(ii) 10 citations
(A) The date of measurement for each sample taken;
(B) The task monitored; 3 citations
(C) Sampling and analytical methods used; 1 citations
(D) Number, duration, and results of samples taken;
(E) Identity of the laboratory that performed the analysis;
(F) Type of personal protective equipment, such as respirators, worn by the employees monitored; and 5 citations
(G) Name and job classification of all employees represented by the monitoring, indicating which employees were actually monitored.
(iii) The employer shall ensure that exposure records are maintained and made available in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1020.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1053.
Export the list: 16 inspections cited 1910.1053(k)(1) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 | 3 |
Top states: TN (7), MI (2), OK (1), GA (1), WI (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| DAL-TILE TENNESSEE, LLC | DICKSON, TN | $3,150 |
| ROCKINGHAM REDI-MIX INC. | HARRISONBURG, VA | $260 |
| MID AMERICAN STEEL & WIRE CO., LLC | MADILL, OK | $0 |
| ALUDYNE COLUMBUS, LLC | COLUMBUS, GA | $0 |
| CEMSTONE READY MIX | NEW RICHMOND, WI | $0 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.1053(k)(1).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1053(k) Recordkeeping 19 citations
- 1910.1053(k)(1)(ii) 10 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What must a silica monitoring record include?
Date, task, sampling and analytical methods, number, duration and results of samples, lab identity, PPE worn, and names and job classifications of employees represented.
Must the record show who was actually monitored?
Yes. It must indicate which employees were actually monitored.
How are these records kept?
They must be maintained and made available in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1020.
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 2026-11-06
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.