1910.1053(e): Silica Regulated Areas
Employers must establish a regulated area wherever an employee's exposure to respirable crystalline silica is, or can reasonably be expected to be, above the PEL. Regulated areas must be marked off to limit the number exposed, have signs at all entrances, limit access to authorized and listed persons, and everyone entering must be provided and required to use an appropriate respirator.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1053(e) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 116 times in the last 3 years, in 97 inspections, with $158,039 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: FL (10), GA (10), AL (9).
- Related part: 1910.1053(e)(1) Establishment (70 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1053(e) ("Regulated areas") 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
(e) Regulated areas — 116 citations
(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. Open (e)(1) 70 citations
(2) Demarcation. Open (e)(2) 39 citations
(i) The employer shall demarcate regulated areas from the rest of the workplace in a manner that minimizes the number of employees exposed to respirable crystalline silica within the regulated area. Open (e)(2)(i) 14 citations
(ii) The employer shall post signs at all entrances to regulated areas that bear the legend specified in paragraph (j)(2) of this section. Open (e)(2)(ii) 25 citations
(3) Access. The employer shall limit access to regulated areas to:
(A) Persons authorized by the employer and required by work duties to be present in the regulated area;
(B) Any person entering such an area as a designated representative of employees for the purpose of exercising the right to observe monitoring procedures under paragraph (d) of this section; and
(C) Any person authorized by the Occupational Safety and Health Act or regulations issued under it to be in a regulated area.
(4) Provision of respirators. The employer shall provide each employee and the employee's designated representative entering a regulated area with an appropriate respirator in accordance with paragraph (g) of this section and shall require each employee and the employee's designated representative to use the respirator while in a regulated area. Open (e)(4) 7 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).
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 | 8 |
| 2024 | 54 |
| 2025 | 32 |
| 2026 | 22 |
Top states: FL (10), GA (10), AL (9), MA (9), PA (9)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| ART STONE-GRANITE & MARBLE, INC. | MARIETTA, GA | $22,590 |
| LIBERTY CASTING COMPANY, LLC | DELAWARE, OH | $18,563 |
| GENERAL SHALE BRICK, INC. | WATSONTOWN, PA | $16,550 |
| ALUDYNE COLUMBUS, LLC | COLUMBUS, GA | $11,292 |
| OLDCASTLE APG SOUTH, INC. DBA NORTHFIELD BLOCK COMPANY | MORRIS, IL | $10,000 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1053(e), 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)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1053(e)(1) Establishment 70 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
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Frequently asked questions
When is a silica regulated area required?
Wherever exposure is, or can reasonably be expected to be, in excess of the PEL.
Who can enter a regulated area?
Persons authorized by the employer and required by work duties, designated employee representatives observing monitoring, and persons authorized by the OSH Act or its regulations.
Are respirators required inside?
Yes. The employer must provide an appropriate respirator and require its use in the regulated area.
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.