SILICA RESOURCE CENTER ABOUT THE STANDARD COMPLIANCE PROCESS TOOLS & CUTTING FAQ RESOURCES
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SILICA RESOURCE CENTER ABOUT THE STANDARD COMPLIANCE PROCESS TOOLS & CUTTING FAQ RESOURCES

About the Standard

OSHA sets exposure limits for dust, chemicals and other materials that employees may be exposed to at work or on a jobsite. These exposure limits cover dust from all types of materials, including: stone, brick, concrete, drywall, wood, and wood composites.

OSHA requires employers to take specific actions to protect workers on construction sites based on the amount of silica dust they are exposed to. The OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica dust is 50 μg/m3 as a time weighted average over an 8-hour period.

 

How It’s Measured

Respirable crystalline silica exposure is measured using an air sampling device that is placed in the work area or worn by an employee. An industrial hygienist (IH)** will generally oversee the sample collection. The samples are collected and sent to a qualified lab for analysis and the IH will review the results and make recommendations.

 

Who Is Affected?

This OSHA standard affects all activities that generate silica dust on a jobsite. Trades that use stone, concrete and other materials that are difficult to replace must also comply with the standard, as the change affects work practices that use these materials.

OSHA has complied a list of work practices that, if fully and properly implemented, are deemed to be compliant with the PEL. This list of work practices is known as "Table 1".

What is Table 1?

* The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published several reports related to controlling silica dust on jobsites, including concrete grinding, tuck-pointing and fiber cement. See Link
** Industrial Hygienists are degreed scientists or engineers trained to evaluate workplace health and safety issues. While there is no licensing program, the American Board of Industrial Hygiene administers a certification program; Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIH) must be degreed, have least four years of experience and pass a 1-day exam. See Link

James Hardie is here to help

When using James Hardie products, working with the OSHA silica dust standard is straightforward and can be as easy as making a plan, using the right tools and training your employees. We’re ready to help you with all three.

Make a plan
We can get you in touch with safety consultants and provide other resources to help you prepare your organization for compliance with written safety plans, communication and training requirements of the new OSHA silica standard.  
Learn More about Compliance Process ›
Use the right tools
There’s no need to use respirators or tents when cutting fiber cement products. OSHA states that using readily available tools can eliminate the need to use respirators, and reduce or eliminate other requirements.
See the tools you'll need ›
Train your employees
Make sure your employees know how to implement and follow your exposure control plan. James Hardie can provide on-site training for setting up your cutting station, in addition to helpful how-to videos and a downloadable cutting guide.
View cutting video and guide now ›

Table 1 - Overview for Fiber Cement


Under 29 CFR 1926.1153(c), Table 1 lists several construction site tasks that generate silica dust and specified equipment and practices – called “engineering controls” – to keep dust below the PEL.

Under 29 CFR 1926.1153(c)(iii), OSHA provides a specific safe harbor practice for cutting for cutting fiber cement boards using a handheld power saw (with blade diameter of 8 inches or less)1:

For tasks performed outdoors only:
  • Use saw equipped with commercially-available dust collection system
  • Operate and maintain tool in accordance with manufacturer's instructions to minimize dust emissions
  • Dust collector must provide the air flow recommended by the tool manufacturer, or greater, and have a filter with 99% or greater efficiency.

OSHA has stated that “full and proper implementation” of the above Table 1 control does not require the use of respirators (dust masks) and satisfies the employer's duty to achieve the PEL without the need for additional exposure monitoring.2

1 OSHA Final Silica Rule 2016-04800: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-03-25/pdf/2016-04800.pdf
2 OSHA Standard §1926.1153, p 3: https://www.osha.gov/silica/SilicaConstructionRegText.pdf

 

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Questions

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