Sampling the air for respirable silica when a dust-producing task is being performed is the best way to determine if and how much silica dust is in the air the worker is breathing. (Note: MSHA requires regular sampling of sand and gravel pits, rock crushers, aggregate recycling, and stone quarries.)

Personal air monitoring is necessary to:

• Ensure exposures are not exceeding OSHA’s Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for silica (or MSHA’s PEL if applicable); 
• Verify engineering controls are working effectively; and
• Choose the right respirator, if one is needed.

There are three key steps:

1. A professional industrial hygienist (IH) collects the air sample after discussions with workers to determine typical and worst-case exposures. (You can learn about IH qualifications and find one in your location at www.aiha.org).
2. The IH sends the sample to a qualified laboratory where the total amount of dust and the amount of silica dust will be measured. Typically, it will take roughly a week to receive the results, depending on the lab and whether the sample was rushed.
3. Based on the sample’s silica content, the IH will recommend dust control options for the material and task.

Watch a video to learn more about air monitoring….

• Air Sampling for Worker Silica Dust Exposure 2001, MSHA
• Obtaining a Dust Sample, MSHA

Find an industrial hygienist or a lab:

• The American Industrial Hygiene Association provides access to a list of consultants broken down by the type of work they perform.
• Board for Global EHS Credentialling maintains an online database of certified industrial hygienists (CIHs) you can search by location. CIHs have met the minimum requirements for education and experience, and through examination have demonstrated a minimum level of knowledge and skill in all the key areas of the field. This certification is the main quality control for the profession.
• The American Industrial Hygiene Association Laboraty Accreditation Programs provides access to a list of accredited laboratories.

Note: Some insurance carriers offer on-site safety and health consultations including air sampling and air monitoring. Contact your carrier to find out if this service is available.

Types of questions to ask when hiring an industrial hygienist:

• What experience have you had performing air monitoring in my industry?
• What laboratory will you use to analyze the sample? Is it accredited?
• How do you plan to conduct air monitoring? Will you perform full-shift or task-based sampling? How many different workers will you use for personal samples and how many samples will you collect for each? 
• How long will the entire process take?  If you were hired today, how long would it take from when the samples are taken until I receive a final report and recommendations?
• What is the cost for sampling and preparing the report?  What other services are included? Will you share a sample of a report that you have prepared for an industrial hygiene visit to evaluate airborne crystalline silica?

Types of information you will need to provide an industrial hygienist:

• Location of project.
• Site contact person and phone number.
• Scope of work including the number of different dust-generating tasks that may expose workers to silica.
• The trades involved, the dust-generating tasks each will perform, and an estimate of the amount of time per day each task will be performed.
• Types of controls currently being used.

Remember, OSHA requires you to:

• Keep exposure below the PEL by using engineering controls
• Supplement engineering controls, if necessary, with administrative controls and respiratory protection.