OSHA's New Silica Rule
Watch our webinar to determine how these regulations apply to your organization. OSHA's crystalline silica rule has been finalized.
OSHA’s crystalline silica rule has been finalized. There are separate requirements for general industry/maritime and construction. Crystalline silica can cause respirable and kidney disease and some cancers. It becomes respirable when it is cut, ground, drilled or chipped. Requirements include Written Exposure Control Plan, Housekeeping, Training, and Recordkeeping. iSi is here to help your company comply with this new standard.
⚡ TL;DR: OSHA’s crystalline silica rule applies to all facilities where silica-containing materials are cut, ground, drilled, or chipped. Compliance requires a written exposure control plan, workplace exposure sampling, engineering controls, medical surveillance for exposed workers, and training. Failure to comply triggers citations up to $16,550 per violation.
⚠️ What’s at stake: Silica exposure causes silicosis—a progressive lung disease with no cure. It also increases risk of kidney disease, tuberculosis, and lung cancer. Workers exposed above the action level must be offered medical exams every 3 years. Missing silica controls leads to OSHA citations, worker illness claims, and permanent employee disability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What health risks does crystalline silica exposure create?
A: Crystalline silica exposure causes silicosis (a progressive lung disease), can lead to kidney disease, increases risk of tuberculosis, and is associated with lung cancer. The hazard becomes respirable when silica-containing materials are cut, ground, drilled, chipped, or otherwise processed that releases fine particles into the air.
Q: What are the key compliance requirements under OSHA’s crystalline silica standard?
A: OSHA requires facilities to develop a Written Exposure Control Plan, implement housekeeping procedures to minimize silica dust, provide training to workers on silica hazards and controls, and maintain medical surveillance records. Respiratory protection, engineering controls, and exposure monitoring are core components of compliance under both general industry and construction standards.
Q: Are the crystalline silica requirements the same for construction and general industry?
A: No, OSHA has separate crystalline silica standards for construction and general industry/maritime operations. While both require exposure control plans and training, the specific exposure limits, monitoring frequency, and recordkeeping requirements differ between the two sectors.
Q: How can iSi Environmental help my facility comply with silica regulations?
A: iSi conducts silica exposure assessments, helps develop written exposure control plans, provides workplace monitoring and sampling, and delivers training tailored to your facility’s specific silica hazards. Our industrial hygienists can identify silica sources and implement control measures to minimize worker exposure.
Is your facility creating respirable silica dust through cutting, grinding, drilling, or chipping? Are you sampling exposures and tracking them against OSHA limits? iSi’s industrial hygiene team helps manufacturing and construction facilities conduct silica exposure assessments, develop written control plans, and implement engineering controls to protect workers. Get started →
💰 The cost of non-compliance: OSHA serious violations for silica standard violations run up to $16,550 each. Willful violations reach $165,514. But fines are dwarfed by worker injury costs—silicosis settlements can exceed $200,000, and a single lung cancer claim related to occupational silica exposure can exceed $1,000,000 in medical costs and loss of wages.
Every satisfactory silica control program starts with knowing your actual exposure levels. iSi Environmental helps industrial and construction facilities assess silica exposure, develop written exposure control plans, and implement engineering controls to keep workers safe and below OSHA limits. Schedule a compliance review →
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