Understanding Silica Exposure: What It Is, Who's at Risk, and How to Stay Compliant in 2025

Crystalline silica—commonly referred to as quartz—is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's crust. It is found in numerous construction and industrial materials, including:

• Concrete

• Stone

• Sand

• Mortar

• Brick

• Ceramic and clay products

While silica is a naturally occurring mineral, it becomes a serious health hazard when it is disturbed through activities like cutting, sawing, grinding, drilling, or crushing, releasing respirable crystalline silica dust into the air.

Why Silica Is Dangerous

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) classifies respirable crystalline silica as a known human lung carcinogen. Even brief or low-level exposure to silica dust can lead to significant long-term health issues. According to OSHA and NIOSH, over 2.3 million workers in the U.S. are exposed to silica annually.

Long-term exposure can lead to serious, and in some cases fatal, illnesses:

• Silicosis – An irreversible, progressive lung disease that can be disabling or fatal.

• Lung cancer

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

• Kidney disease

It only takes a small amount of respirable silica dust to create a health hazard—visibility of the dust is not a reliable indicator of danger.

Who Needs Silica Safety Training?

Any worker who performs tasks that disturb silica-containing materials is at risk and should be trained in silica safety practices. Common industries and job roles with high exposure risk include:

• Construction (concrete work, jackhammering, masonry)

• Oil and gas extraction (especially hydraulic fracturing)

• Foundries and metal casting

• Quarrying and stone cutting

• Ready-mix concrete operations

• Jewelry manufacturing

• Abrasive blasting

• Milling and ceramic production

Training is essential not only for safety but also for compliance with OSHA’s silica standard.

OSHA Silica Standard: 29 CFR 1926.1153 (Construction)

OSHA’s silica standard mandates strict exposure control measures in the construction industry. Key provisions include:

 Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)

• 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air (50 µg/m³) averaged over an 8-hour shift.

 Engineering and Work Practice Controls

• Employers must use water, local exhaust ventilation, or other methods to limit airborne silica.

• If controls are not sufficient, respirators must be provided.

 Written Exposure Control Plan

Employers are required to maintain a site-specific written plan that outlines:

• Workplace tasks that expose workers to silica

• Engineering controls, work practices, and respiratory protection

• Housekeeping methods and restricted areas

 Competent Person Designation

A competent person must be assigned to implement the exposure control plan, monitor effectiveness, and address hazards in real-time.

Respiratory Protection Requirements

Respirators are required when:

• Engineering controls cannot reduce exposure below PEL

• Tasks are performed indoors or in enclosed spaces for more than 4 hours

Medical Surveillance

Workers who are required to wear a respirator 30 or more days per year must receive:

• A baseline medical exam

• Chest X-rays and lung function tests (spirometry) every 3 years

Training & Recordkeeping

• All exposed employees must receive silica safety training.

• Employers must maintain accurate exposure and medical surveillance records.

OSHA’s Final Rule on Silica

The final rule on occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica was enacted in 2016 and fully phased in by 2021. It encompasses standards for general industry, construction, and maritime work environments. It replaced outdated PELs from 1971 and introduced:

• Updated PEL of 50 µg/m³

• Action level of 25 µg/m³

• New protocols for monitoring, hazard communication, and recordkeeping

Why Silica Compliance Matters

Failure to comply with OSHA’s silica standard can result in significant penalties. As of 2025, maximum OSHA fines can exceed $16,000 per violation, with willful violations reaching over $161,000. More importantly, non-compliance puts workers’ lives and long-term health at risk.

If you want more information about Silica, visit OSHA