Silica Awareness Training

Our OSHA Silica Awareness Training course is designed to provide an overview of the hazards associated with exposure to respirable crystalline silica (also known as silica dust) and the hazard controls that can be implemented to limit exposure to safe levels.

Silica compounds occur naturally in the environment and can also be produced synthetically. Such naturally occurring compounds or man-made compounds often expose workers to silica dust above the acceptable silica permissible exposure limit (PEL) as specified by the OSHA Respirable Crystalline Silica Standards.

Workers are exposed to respirable crystalline silica in a variety of industries, including construction, mining, oil and gas extraction, stone countertop fabrication, foundries, and other manufacturing settings. Such workers may at a greater risk of contracting silicosis and other lung ailments, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and even cancer.

In order to protect workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued respirable crystalline silica standards for the General Industry and Maritime (29 CFR 1910.1053) and the Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926.1153).

The core objective of the OSHA Silica Awareness Training course is to familiarize workers with the hazards associated with exposure to respirable crystalline silica and hazard controls that must be implemented to minimize exposure within safe limits in compliance with OSHA’s respirable crystalline silica standards for the general industry (29 CFR 1910.1053) and the construction industry (29 CFR 1926.1153).

Learning Objectives

After completing the OSHA Silica Awareness Training course, the student will be able to:

• Understand general requirements of OSHA’s Respirable Silica Standards for the General Industry and the Construction Industry;
• Define silica and identify the natural and man-made sources of this compound;
• Recognize the sources of occupational silica exposure for workers;
• List the various diseases caused by exposure to respirable crystalline silica;
• Recall the OSHA-specified action level (AL) and permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica;
• Understand the compliance requirements for workers who choose to use specific exposure control methods;
• Understand OSHA’s Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard compliance requirements for workers who choose to use alternate exposure control methods; and
• Understand OSHA requirements relating to exposure control plan, silica relevant respiratory protection, housekeeping, training, and recordkeeping for workers exposed to silica in the workplace.