1910.1053(i)(1): Who Gets Silica Medical Surveillance
Employers must make medical surveillance available at no cost, at a reasonable time and place, for each employee exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year. All required exams and procedures must be performed by a PLHCP.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1053(i)(1) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 158 times in the last 3 years, in 155 inspections, with $480,102 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: IL (25), AL (14), PA (14).
- Related part: 1910.1053(i) Medical surveillance (188 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1053(i)(1) ("General") is one requirement inside 1910.1053 Respirable crystalline silica, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910). It includes 2 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. 158 citations
(i) The employer shall make medical surveillance available at no cost to the employee, and at a reasonable time and place, for each employee who will be occupationally exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year. Open (i)(1)(i) 158 citations
(ii) The employer shall ensure that all medical examinations and procedures required by this section are performed by a PLHCP as defined in paragraph (b) of this section.
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(i)(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 | 6 |
| 2024 | 81 |
| 2025 | 46 |
| 2026 | 25 |
Top states: IL (25), AL (14), PA (14), TN (13), FL (12)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| FLORENZA MARBLE & GRANITE CORPORATION | CHICAGO, IL | $189,960 |
| GENERAL SHALE BRICK, INC. | WATSONTOWN, PA | $16,550 |
| LIBERTY CASTING COMPANY, LLC | DELAWARE, OH | $13,261 |
| ALUDYNE COLUMBUS, LLC | COLUMBUS, GA | $11,292 |
| SALEM STONES, INC. | OBETZ, OH | $11,033 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1053(i)(1), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.1053(i)(1).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1053(i) Medical surveillance 188 citations
- 1910.1053(i)(1)(i) 158 citations
- 1910.1053(i)(2) 25 citations
- 1910.1053(i)(2)(iv) 1 citations
- 1910.1053(i)(6) PLHCP's written medical opinion for the employer
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
Who qualifies for silica medical surveillance?
Each employee occupationally exposed at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year.
Is there a cost to the employee?
No. It must be available at no cost to the employee.
Who performs the exams?
A PLHCP as defined in paragraph (b) of the standard.
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.