Respirable Crystalline Silica Standards
Important Update
This webpage gives an overview of new standards to control employee exposures to respirable crystalline silica, which can cause silicosis, lung cancer, and other serious health effects.
The standards are found in the following sections of the California Code of Regulations, title 8:
- Section 5155 (and Appendix and Table AC-1)
- Section 1532.3 (and Appendix A)
- Section 5204 (and Appendix A)
To access a table of contents and search engine, go to Cal/OSHA Title 8 Regulations Table of Contents.
Which employers must comply with the new standards?
Section 5155 requires all employers to protect employees from exposures that exceed the "permissible exposure limit" (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica. NOTE: Construction employers and certain other employers properly using exposure control methods provided in Table 1 of section 1532.3 for particular construction tasks are not required to verify that employee exposures are at or below the PEL.
Section 1532.3 applies to occupational exposures in construction, except where exposures will remain below the "action level" under any foreseeable conditions.
Section 5204 apples to all occupational exposures except construction work, agricultural operations, and exposures from the processing of sorptive clays. In addition, section 5204 does not apply in the following situations:
- The employer demonstrates (through methods specified in section 5204) that exposures will remain below the "action level" under any foreseeable conditions; or
- The employer complies with section 1532.3 (as specified in section 5204, for tasks not performed regularly).
What is the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica?
The PEL for respirable crystalline silica is 50 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/M3) of air. This is the maximum concentration of respirable crystalline silica in air, as an eight-hour time-weighted average, to which an employee may be exposed.
What is the action level for respirable crystalline silica?
The action level for respirable crystalline silica is 25 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/M3) of air. This is the concentration of respirable crystalline silica in air, as an eight-hour time-weighted average, at or above which employers must assess employee exposures, as prescribed in sections 1532.3 and 5204, and conduct medical surveillance, as prescribed in section 5204.
What are the broad categories of requirements in sections 1532.3 and 5204?
The broad categories of requirements are as follows:
| Broad Categories of Requirements | Section 1532.3 | Section 5204 |
|---|---|---|
| Methods of exposure control or compliance | 1532.3(c) or (d)(3) | 5204(a)(3) or (f) |
| Exposure assessments | 1532.3(d)(2) | 5204(d) |
| Respiratory protection | 1532.3(e) | 5204(g) |
| Housekeeping | 1532.3(f) | 5204(h) |
| Restricted or regulated areas | 1532.3(g)(1)(D) | 5204(e) |
| Written exposure control plans | 1532.3(g) | 5204(f)(2) |
| Medical surveillance | 1532.3(h) | 5204(i) |
| Communication of respirable crystalline silica hazards to employees | 1532.3(i) | 5204(j) |
| Recordkeeping | 1532.3(j) | 5204(k) |
How does section 1532.3 relate to section 1530.1, which covers dust-generating construction operations conducted on concrete or masonry materials?
In general, the requirements in section 1532.3 are more protective than most of the requirements in section 1530.1. However, section 1530.1 contains certain requirements not found in section 1532.3. Construction employers covered by section 1530.1 must still comply with those requirements, found in the following subsections:
- Subsection 1530.1(d)(1) requires procedures to ensure that dust reduction systems maintain their effectiveness for dust reduction throughout the work shift.
- Subsection 1530.1(e) contains additional training topics, not included in section 1532.3, for employees and supervisors.
When must employers begin complying with the new standards?
Section 5155 the PEL for respirable crystalline silica (50 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/M3) of air) is in effect. Employers not using exposure control methods provided in Table 1 of section 1532.3 for particular construction tasks must ensure that employee exposures are at or below the PEL.
Section 1532.3 is in effect.
Section 5204 is in effect, except as follows:
- For all covered industries, requirements in subsection 5204(i)(1)(A) for medical surveillance go into effect on June 23, 2020, for employees who will be exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year. Currently, medical surveillance requirements only apply to employees who are exposed to respirable crystalline silica above the PEL for 30 or more days per year.
- For hydraulic fracturing operations in the oil and gas industry, requirements in subsection 5204(f)(1) for engineering controls,
to limit exposures to or below the PEL, go into effect on June 23, 2021. Until that date, employers must:
- Use work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposures to respirable crystalline silica at or below the PEL, unless the employer can demonstrate that such controls are not feasible.
- Where work practice controls are not sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the PEL, use work practice controls to reduce employee exposure to the lowest feasible level and supplement them with the use of respiratory protection.
Revised April 16, 2019