Respirable Crystalline Silica for General Industry Workers

What it does to you and how much is too much

Respirable crystalline silica is quartz, cristobalite and/or tridymite contained in airborne particles that are determined to be respirable by a sampling device designed to meet the size-selective sampler characteristics in ISO 7708:1995. The standard applies to all occupational exposures except construction work (covered by its own silica standard, 29 CFR 1926.1153), agricultural operations, and exposures from processing sorptive clays. It also does not apply where the employer has objective data showing exposure will remain below 25 µg/m³ as an 8-hour TWA under any foreseeable conditions, or where the employer complies with 29 CFR 1926.1153 for a task that is indistinguishable from a construction task listed in that standard's Table 1 and will not be performed regularly in the same environment and conditions.

Health hazards

Your employer's hazard communication training must cover at least these silica hazards:

Two numbers to know

"Employee exposure" means the exposure you would have if you were not wearing a respirator. A respirator protects you, but it does not lower your exposure as the rule defines it.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.1053(a)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.1053(b) "Respirable crystalline silica" · 29 CFR 1910.1053(j)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.1053(c) · 29 CFR 1910.1053(b) "Action level" · 29 CFR 1910.1053(d)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.1053(i)(1)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.1053(b) "Employee exposure" · 29 CFR 1910.1053(a)(2) · 29 CFR 1910.1053(a)(3)

Read the sign, wear the respirator

Your employer must set up a regulated area wherever exposure is, or can reasonably be expected to be, above the PEL. Signs with this legend must be posted at all entrances:

Your part

• Enter only if you are authorized and your work duties require you to be there. (Employee representatives observing monitoring and persons authorized by law may also enter.)
• Your employer must give you an appropriate respirator and require you to use it while you are in the regulated area. Put it on before you go in.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.1053(e)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.1053(e)(2)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.1053(j)(2) · 29 CFR 1910.1053(e)(3) · 29 CFR 1910.1053(e)(4)

Controls first, and no dry sweeping or blowing

Engineering and work practice controls come first

Your employer must use engineering and work practice controls (such as local exhaust ventilation, water to wet the dust, and enclosures) to keep exposure at or below the PEL, unless it can show they are not feasible.

The written exposure control plan

Your employer must establish and implement a written exposure control plan that contains at least: a description of the tasks in the workplace that involve exposure to respirable crystalline silica; a description of the engineering controls, work practices and respiratory protection used to limit exposure for each task; and a description of the housekeeping measures used to limit exposure. Your employer must review and evaluate the plan's effectiveness at least annually and update it as necessary. You can ask to see and copy it.

Good practice: follow the plan, keep the water flowing, keep the exhaust hood in place, and report controls that are not working.

Clean-up rules

• No dry sweeping or dry brushing where it could add to silica exposure, unless wet sweeping, HEPA-filtered vacuuming or other low-exposure methods are not feasible.
• No compressed air to clean clothing or surfaces where it could add to exposure, unless it is used with ventilation that effectively captures the dust cloud, or no alternative method is feasible.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.1053(f)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.1053(f)(2)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.1053(f)(2)(iii) · 29 CFR 1910.1053(h)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.1053(h)(2) · 29 CFR 1910.1053(f)(2)(ii)

Four situations

A respirator is required:

1. Where exposure is above the PEL while controls are being installed
2. Where exposure is above the PEL during tasks, such as certain maintenance and repair, where controls are not feasible
3. During tasks where all feasible controls are in place but are not enough to get exposure to or below the PEL
4. Whenever you are in a regulated area

When respirators are required, your employer must run a respiratory protection program under 29 CFR 1910.134. Wear the respirator you were assigned and fitted for.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.1053(g)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.1053(g)(2)

Exposure results and medical surveillance

Your exposure results

• Within 15 working days after an exposure assessment, your employer must notify you in writing of the results, or post them where all affected employees can see them.
• If your exposure is above the PEL, the notice must describe the corrective action being taken.
• You or your designated representative have the right to observe air monitoring.

Medical exams

• If you will be exposed at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year, your employer must make medical surveillance available at no cost to you, at a reasonable time and place.
• Initial exam: within 30 days after initial assignment, unless you had a qualifying exam within the last three years.
• Periodic exams: at least every three years, or more often if the examining health care professional recommends.
• The examining professional must explain your results to you and give you a written medical report within 30 days of each exam.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.1053(d)(6)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.1053(d)(6)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.1053(d)(7)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.1053(i)(1)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.1053(i)(2) · 29 CFR 1910.1053(i)(3) · 29 CFR 1910.1053(i)(5)