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Tips and Help for the New US OSHA Silica Regulation

OSHA Silica: Know the drill.

OSHA's silica construction standard is already in effect. Is your crew protected?

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Reducing Exposures to Crystalline Silica

It’s estimated that more than 2.3 million workers in the United States are potentially exposed to dust containing crystalline silica — with nearly 90% of those workers employed in the construction industry. According to OSHA, in 2014 more workers died from silicosis than from being caught in or crushed by collapsing materials, such as in trench and structure collapses.*

* OSHA Frequently Asked Questions: Respirable Crystalline Silica Rule

What is the new US OSHA construction silica regulation?

The new US OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1153 regulation requires contractors to control their employees’ exposure to respirable crystalline silica. Highlights of the new regulation include:

New Reduced Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)

Written Exposure Control Plan

Medical Surveillance

Silica Competent Person

Resources:

Compliance Summary Checklist (PDF, 165 KB)

Respirable Crystalline Silica in Construction (PDF, 573 KB)

Task-based PPE Suggestions for Silica in the Construction Industry (PDF, 376 KB)

Silica in Construction - Regulation Update (PDF, 518 KB)

See full regulation at: https://www.osha.gov/silica

Technical Bulletin - Respiratory Protection for Stone Countertop Workers (PDF, 91 KB)

Go to 3M Center for Respiratory Protection
Watch Webcast

This 40-minute webcast features construction industrial hygienist Don Garvey explaining OSHA’s new construction silica regulation and gives some thoughts on what it means for construction safety managers.

Watch Webcast

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Beyond the cutting and crushing: Helpful tips for the new US OSHA Construction Silica Regulation

Federal US OSHA has published several support documents that should be reviewed along with the complete regulation. Below are a few highlights that apply to construction applications.

New Reduced Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL): Lowered by 80% from what it used to be. OSHA has identified three methods to conduct an exposure assessment:

Table 1: Identifies common construction tasks and specifies appropriate and effective engineering controls, work practices, and respiratory protection for each task.

Performance Monitoring: Assess the 8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) exposure based on air monitoring data and other objective data.

Schedule Monitoring: Initial monitoring is used to assess the 8-hour TWA exposure based on a personal breathing zone (PBZ) air samples.

Written Exposure Control Plan: Describes methods used to control workplace exposures, such as engineering controls, work practices, and housekeeping measures. The requirements for the written exposure control plan include:

Description of the silica tasks

Engineering controls

Housekeeping measures

Methods to restrict access to work areas

Annual review of the plan for effectiveness and updates

Designated competent person to make frequent and regular inspections of job sites, materials, and equipment to ensure the implementation of the written exposure control plan

Medical Surveillance: The employer is required to make medical surveillance available at no cost and at a reasonable time and place for each worker required to wear respirators due to silica exposure. Required procedures:

Initial (baseline) examinations

Periodic examinations

Information provided to the physician or other licensed health care professional (PLHCP)

PLHCP’s written medical report for the employee

PLHCP’s written medical opinion for the employer

Additional examinations

Silica Competent Person: An individual who is capable of identifying existing and foreseeable respirable crystalline silica hazards in the workplace and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate or minimize.

Seven things to help you be in compliance with the new US OSHA construction silica regulation.

Identify a silica competent person and ensure they are trained appropriately

Decide if Table 1 can be used or if an exposure assessment must be done
- Using Table 1 - fully and properly implement all required controls (example: ensure tools operate per the manufacturer’s instructions)
- Not using Table 1 – conduct exposure assessment of workers

Develop the written exposure control plan

Implement the exposure control plan

Conduct frequent and regular inspections of the jobsite and modify the plan as conditions change

Call in qualified persons to support the competent person with complex or unique situations

Review the plan at the end of the project for lessons learned and incorporate them into future plans

Note: This is a brief overview of compliance. The employer must read and understand 29 CFR1926.1153 and all other US OSHA silica compliance directives prior to starting any silica work.

See More

Respiratory protection based on the OSHA Construction Silica regulation revision

This is only a brief overview. Consult the full OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1926.1153 before starting any silica work.

Download Infographic (PDF, 598 KB)

Now is the time to act

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OSHA Silica: Know the drill.

Reducing Exposures to Crystalline Silica

What is the new US OSHA construction silica regulation?

Thank You

Our Apologies...

Respiratory protection based on the OSHA Construction Silica regulation revision

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8210V

8511

9211+

6000

6500

6500QL

7500

TR-600

M-307

GVP PAPR

TR-300

6000 FF

FF-400

7800S

TR-600

M-407

GVP PAPR

TR-300