Know the Hazard
Take Action
Contractors can:
- Comply with OSHA's Crystalline Silica Standard for the Construction Industry (1926.1153) or OSHA’s Crystalline Silica Standard for General Industry (for contractors working in the oil & gas industry) (1910.1053).
- Assign a competent person to identify and control for silica on the job–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 them. The competent person must have the knowledge and ability necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of the written exposure control plan.
- Use vacuums, water, substitutes, or different work practices to reduce or eliminate the dust. See best practice tips for Table 1 equipment control options.
- Provide workers with respiratory protection when other controls are not enough. Respirators must be properly fitted and appropriate for the exposure. As noted in the construction standard, employers who have employees that are required to wear a respirator for 30 or more days a year under the standard must have a medical surveillance program. Learn more about Medical Monitoring Under the OSHA Silica Standard for the Construction Industry in a Guide for Employers.
- Use a substitute material instead of sand when abrasive blasting. For a list of substitutes, click here.
- Create a plan for working safely with silica. The “Create-A-Plan” section of this website walks users through simple steps to identify a silica hazards, ways to control the dust, and actions to work safely with silica. This tool can help employers comply with the requirement in the standard for a written exposure control plan.
- Train their employees on the health effects of silica, the contents of the silica standard, specific workplace tasks that could expose employees to silica, specific measure being taken to protect employees from silica (including engineering controls, work practices, and respiratory protection), the identity of the competent person, and the purpose and description of the medical surveillance program required under the standard. For training resources, see our Training and Resources page.
