Silica: Controlling Silica Dust in Construction - Overview of Standard (OSHA 3681)

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   FactSheet

   • OSHA’s Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard for Construction
   • Workers who are exposed to respirable crystalline silica dust are at increased risk of developing serious silica-related diseases. OSHA’s standard requires employers to take steps to protect workers from exposure to respirable crystalline silica.
   • What is Respirable Crystalline Silica?
   • Crystalline silica is a common mineral that is found in construction materials such as sand, stone, concrete, brick, and mortar. When workers cut, grind, drill, or crush materials that contain crystalline silica, very small dust particles are created. These tiny particles (known as “respirable” particles) can travel deep into workers’ lungs and cause silicosis, an incurable and sometimes deadly lung disease. Respirable crystalline silica also causes lung cancer, other potentially debilitating respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and kidney disease. In most cases, these diseases occur after years of exposure to respirable crystalline silica.
   • some operations, respirators may also be needed. Employers who follow Table 1 correctly are not required to measure workers’ exposure to silica from those tasks and are not subject to the PEL.
   • Table 1 Example: Handheld Power Saws
   • If workers are sawing silica-containing materials, they can use a saw with a built-in system that applies water to the saw blade. The water limits the amount of respirable crystalline silica that gets into the air.
   • Table 1: Specified Exposure Control Methods
   • When Working With Materials Containing
   • Crystalline Silica
   • How are Construction Workers Exposed to Respirable Crystalline Silica?
   • Exposure to respirable crystalline silica can occur during common construction tasks, such as using masonry saws, grinders, drills, jackhammers and handheld powered chipping tools; operating vehiclemounted drilling rigs; milling; operating crushing machines; using heavy equipment for demolition or certain other tasks; and during abrasive blasting and tunneling operations. About two million construction workers are exposed to respirable crystalline silica in over 600,000 workplaces.
   • What Does the Standard Require?
   • The standard (29 CFR 1926.1153) requires employers to limit worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica and to take other steps to protect workers. Employers can either use a control method laid out in Table 1 of the construction standard, or they can measure workers’ exposure to silica and independently decide which dust controls work best to limit exposures in their workplaces to the permissible exposure limit (PEL).
   • What is Table 1?
   • Table 1 matches 18 common construction tasks with effective dust control methods, such as using water to keep dust from getting into the air or using a vacuum dust collection system to capture dust. In
   • Equipment/
   • Task
   • Handheld power saws
   • (any blade diameter)
   • Engineering and Work Practice Control Methods
   • Required
   • Respiratory
   • Protection and Minimum
   • Assigned
   • Protection
   • Factor (APF)
   • ≤ 4 hrs/ shift
   • 4 hrs/ shift
   • None
   • APF 10
   • APF 10
   • APF 10
   • Use saw equipped with integrated water delivery system that continuously feeds water to the blade.
   • Operate and maintain tool in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions to minimize dust emissions.
   • When used outdoors.
   • When used indoors or in an enclosed area.
   • Excerpt from Table 1 in 29 CFR 1926.1153
   • In this example, if a worker uses the saw outdoors for four hours or less per day, no respirator would be needed. If a worker uses the saw for more than four
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   • hours per day or any time indoors, he or she would need to use a respirator with an assigned protection factor (APF) of at least 10, such as a NIOSH-certified filtering facepiece respirator that covers the nose and mouth (sometimes referred to as a dust mask). See the respiratory protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134) for information on APFs.
   • Alternative Exposure Control Methods
   • Employers who do not fully implement the control methods on Table 1 must:
   • Determine the amount of silica that workers are exposed to if it is, or may reasonably be expected to be, at or above the action level of 25 μg/m 3 (micrograms of silica per cubic meter of air), averaged over an 8-hour day;
   • Protect workers from respirable crystalline silica exposures above the PEL of 50 μg/m 3 , averaged over an 8-hour day;
   • Use dust controls and safer work methods to protect workers from silica exposures above the PEL; and
   • Provide respirators to workers when dust controls and safer work methods cannot limit exposures to the PEL.
   • What Else Does the Standard Require?
   • Regardless of which exposure control method is used, all construction employers covered by the standard are required to:
   • Establish and implement a written exposure control plan that identifies tasks that involve exposure and methods used to protect workers, including procedures to restrict access to work areas where high exposures may occur;
   • Designate a competent person to implement the written exposure control plan;
   • Restrict housekeeping practices that expose workers to silica, such as use of compressed air without a ventilation system to capture the dust and dry sweeping, where effective, safe alternatives are available;
   • Offer medical exams—including chest X-rays and lung function tests—every three years for workers who are required by the standard to wear a respirator for 30 or more days per year;
   • Train workers on the health effects of silica exposure, workplace tasks that can expose them to silica, and ways to limit exposure; and
   • Keep records of workers’ silica exposure and medical exams.
   • Additional Information
   • Additional information on OSHA’s silica standard can be found at www.osha.gov/silica.
   • Applying water to the blade of a handheld power saw reduces the amount of dust created when cutting.
   • OSHA can provide compliance assistance through a variety of programs, including technical assistance about effective safety and health programs, workplace consultations, and training and education.
   • OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program offers free, confidential occupational safety and health services to small and medium-sized businesses in all states and several territories across the country, with priority given to high-hazard worksites. On-Site consultation services are separate from enforcement and do not result in penalties or citations. Consultants from state agencies or universities work with employers to identify workplace hazards, provide advice on compliance with OSHA standards, and assist in establishing and improving safety and health management systems. To locate the OSHA On-Site Consultation Program nearest you, call 1-800-321- OSHA or visit www.osha.gov/consultation.
   • How to Contact OSHA
   • Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov or call OSHA at 1-800-321- OSHA (6742), TTY 1-877-889-5627.
   • This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies or standards. It does not impose any new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of compliance requirements of OSHA standards or regulations, refer to Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This information will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon request. The voice phone is (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889-5627.
   • DSG FS-3681 12/2017