OSHA Silica Rule for Contractors: Table 1, Exposure Limits and Plans

Cutting, drilling or grinding concrete, brick or stone triggers OSHA’s silica rule: the 50 µg/m³ limit, Table 1 controls, a written plan and no dry sweeping.

By Seayora Editorial Team · Published October 28, 2026 · Facts checked October 28, 2026 · 3 min read

Short answer: OSHA’s construction silica standard, 29 CFR 1926.1153, covers work that exposes employees to respirable crystalline silica, such as cutting, drilling or grinding concrete, brick, block and stone. Employers either follow the engineering controls, work practices and respirators listed for each task in Table 1, or measure exposure and keep it under the permissible exposure limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter over an 8-hour shift. Every covered employer needs a written exposure control plan and a competent person, and dry sweeping and compressed-air cleaning are restricted.

Key takeaways

Following Table 1 exactly is a compliance path that avoids exposure monitoring for listed tasks.
Off Table 1, exposure may not exceed 50 µg/m³ as an 8-hour average; the action level is 25 µg/m³.
A written exposure control plan, reviewed at least yearly, and a designated competent person are required.
Medical exams must be offered to workers who must wear a respirator 30 or more days a year.

Which jobs does the silica rule cover?

The standard applies to all occupational exposures to respirable crystalline silica in construction work, except where exposure will stay below 25 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) as an 8-hour time-weighted average under any foreseeable conditions (29 CFR § 1926.1153). In practice that means tasks that make dust from concrete, masonry, stone, tile and similar materials: saw cutting, core drilling, chipping, grinding and tuckpointing.

What is Table 1?

Table 1 lists common equipment and tasks, such as stationary masonry saws, handheld power saws, drills and grinders, with the engineering controls (usually water or a vacuum dust collector), work practices and minimum respiratory protection for each, split by whether the task lasts four hours or less in a shift or more. An employer who fully and properly follows the Table 1 entry for a task is treated as compliant with the exposure limits for that task. If several Table 1 tasks add up to more than four hours in a shift, use the respirator column for more than four hours for each of them.

What if a task is not on Table 1?

Then the employer must assess each employee’s exposure and keep it at or below the permissible exposure limit of 50 µg/m³ as an 8-hour average, using engineering and work practice controls first and respirators where those are not enough. The action level, which triggers exposure assessment, is 25 µg/m³.

What paperwork does the rule require?

A written exposure control plan describing the silica tasks, the controls and respirators used, the housekeeping measures and how access to high-exposure areas is limited. Review it at least once a year and make it available to employees.
A competent person designated to make frequent and regular inspections of job sites, materials and equipment to carry out the plan.
Medical surveillance offered at no cost to each employee required to wear a respirator under the standard for 30 or more days a year.
A respiratory protection program meeting 29 CFR 1910.134 wherever respirators are required.

Can workers dry sweep or blow dust off with compressed air?

Not where it could add to silica exposure. Dry sweeping and dry brushing are prohibited unless wet sweeping, HEPA-filtered vacuuming or other low-exposure methods are not feasible, and compressed air may not be used to clean clothing or surfaces unless it is paired with a ventilation system that captures the dust cloud or no alternative is feasible (29 CFR § 1926.1153(f)).

A violation of the silica standard is penalized like any other OSHA citation; see our fall protection guide for the 2026 maximums.

Frequently asked questions

What is the OSHA silica exposure limit?

50 micrograms of respirable crystalline silica per cubic meter of air, averaged over an 8-hour shift. The action level is 25.

Do I need air monitoring if I follow Table 1?

No, for the tasks listed. Fully and properly following the Table 1 controls for a task is a compliance option in place of assessing exposure for that task.

Does the silica rule apply to homeowners doing their own work?

OSHA standards protect employees. A homeowner working on their own house is not covered, but a contractor’s crew on the same job is.

Sources

29 CFR § 1926.1153, Respirable crystalline silica, eCFR
OSHA Penalties, Occupational Safety and Health Administration

How Seayora helps

Team compliance: Track respirator fit tests, medical clearances and training for each crew member.

This article is general information, not legal or safety advice. Rules for contractors are set by federal and state agencies and by counties and towns, and they change by regulation, so confirm the current requirement with the agency named in the article before you rely on it.

How we write and check these guides: editorial standards.

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