• Understanding Respirable Crystalline Silica and Health Hazards
• Exposure Limits, Assessment, and Monitoring
• Engineering Controls and the Written Exposure Control Plan
• Regulated Areas and Housekeeping
• Respiratory Protection
• Medical Surveillance
• Hazard Communication, Signs, and Recordkeeping
• Building Your Site Silica Safety Program

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does silica safety training take?

This online respirable crystalline silica certification takes approximately 3 hours to complete, including the final exam. You can work at your own pace and pause/resume as needed.

What is the difference between general industry and construction silica training?

OSHA enforces two separate respirable crystalline silica standards, and knowing which applies to your work is the first step toward the right training.

29 CFR 1910.1053 — General Industry & Maritime (This Course) covers silica exposure in fixed-facility operations: stone fabrication, foundries, glass and ceramic manufacturing, brick and concrete product manufacturing, dental labs, abrasive blasting, and shipyard work. If you cut, grind, or polish silica-containing materials inside a shop or plant, this standard applies to you.

29 CFR 1926.1153 — Construction covers silica exposure on job sites: masonry, concrete cutting, drilling, demolition, tuckpointing, and similar field tasks at temporary locations. It’s structured around Table 1 exposure control methods, with different respirator triggers and medical surveillance rules.

Same hazard, different rules. Both standards share the same permissible exposure limit (50 µg/m³ as an 8-hour TWA) and action level (25 µg/m³), but the engineering controls, regulated area requirements, and compliance pathways differ. A fabricator working in a shop takes the general industry course; a mason installing that same countertop on site takes the construction course. Workers who do both may need training under both standards.

This course covers 29 CFR 1910.1053 only. For construction work, see our separate OSHA Construction Silica Training course.

What is the PEL for respirable crystalline silica?

The Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) is 50 micrograms per cubic meter (50 µg/m³) of respirable crystalline silica, calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average. The Action Level is half the PEL at 25 µg/m³ — reaching this level triggers exposure assessment obligations and medical surveillance eligibility.

What is the action level for silica exposure?

The action level is 25 µg/m³ of respirable crystalline silica as an 8-hour time-weighted average — exactly half the PEL. Reaching the action level does not by itself mean exposure is unsafe in a regulatory sense, but it triggers two important obligations. First, the employer must continue exposure assessment for affected workers. Second, workers exposed at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year become eligible for medical surveillance. Workers and employers commonly confuse the PEL and action level — both numbers matter, but they trigger different requirements.

How often is silica safety training required?

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1053 does not specify a hard re-training interval. Training is required before workers are assigned to silica-generating tasks, and whenever job assignments change to include new silica exposures, when new materials or processes are introduced, when the written exposure control plan is updated, and after incidents or near-misses involving silica. Many employers schedule refresher training annually as a best practice. Site-specific updates may require more frequent training even when the regulation does not strictly mandate it.

What is a written exposure control plan?

A written exposure control plan is a document the employer must establish and maintain under 1910.1053(f)(2). It must describe the silica-generating tasks in the workplace, the engineering controls, work practices, and respirators used for each task, and the housekeeping methods used to limit exposure. The plan must be reviewed and updated at least annually. Workers covered by the standard, their designated representatives, and OSHA all have the right to examine and copy this plan. If you are not sure whether your workplace has a current exposure control plan, ask your supervisor or safety coordinator.

Who qualifies for medical surveillance under the silica standard?

Workers who will be occupationally exposed to silica at or above the action level (25 µg/m³ TWA) for 30 or more days per year qualify for medical surveillance. The employer must make the surveillance available at no cost to the worker, performed by a Physician or Other Licensed Health Care Professional (PLHCP).