Silica

Overview

Silica, also called silicon dioxide, exists in many different forms and is one of the most common minerals on our planet. Silicosis is an incurable, often fatal, disease caused by exposure to one of the most common forms of silica – crystalline silica dust. Crystalline means that the oxygen and silicon atoms are arranged in a specific pattern. The dust particles are so small you can see them only with a microscope.

You may be using products or materials that contain crystalline silica and not even know it. If your workplace is a dusty one or if you work with materials that produce dust, you should be concerned about silicosis and crystalline silica hazards.

All available content

Publications

Brochures/Guides
- ¡No se trata solo de polvo! Qué debe saber acerca de la sílice cristalina, la silicosis y las normas sobre sílice de Oregon OSHA
  It's not just dust! What you should know about silicosis and crystalline silica
  Describe los peligros de la sílice cristalina, qué causa la silicosis y cómo prevenirla.
  Spanish Order printed copy 04/04/2019
- Comprender la Tabla 1 y los métodos de control especificados de exposición al polvo de sílice
  Understanding Table 1 and the specified exposure control methods for silica dust
  Esta guía pretende ayudar a los empleados de la construcción a comprender los métodos que se incluyen en la Tabla 1 para controlar la exposición al polvo de sílice.
  Spanish 05/19/2022
- It's not just dust! What you should know about silicosis and crystalline silica
  Describes the hazards of crystalline silica, what causes silicosis, and how to prevent it.
  English Order printed copy 08/13/2020
- Understanding Table 1 and the specified exposure control methods for silica dust
  This guide helps construction employers understand the methods listed in Table 1 for controlling exposures to silica dust.
  English Order printed copy 05/19/2022
Fact sheets
- Crystalline Silica: Specified Exposure Control Methods (Table 1)
  Most employers must evaluate employee exposure to crystalline silica to ensure that employees are not overexposed. Table 1 is a flexible alternative that identifies 18 common construction tasks that generate high exposures to respirable crystalline silica and specifies engineering controls, work practices, and respiratory protection for each task.
  English 04/29/2022
- Descripción general de las normas sobre la sílice de Oregon OSHA para la construcción e industria en general
  Overview of Oregon OSHA’s silica rules for general industry and construction
  Los trabajadores expuestos al polvo de la sílice cristalina respirable experimentan un mayor riesgo de contraer silicosis y otras enfermedades respiratorias.
  Spanish 04/27/2022
- Overview of Oregon OSHA’s silica rules for general industry and construction
  Describes the main elements of the silica standard, including exposure control plan, workplace exposure assessment, permissible exposure limit, restricted areas, engineering and work practice control, table 1 for construction activities, respiratory protection, housekeeping, medical surveillance, information and training, and recordkeeping.
  English 04/27/2022
- Sílice cristalina: Métodos de control de exposición especificados (Table 1)
  Crystalline Silica: Specified Exposure Control Methods (Table 1)
  La mayoría de los empleadores deben evaluar las exposiciones de los empleados a la sílice cristalina para garantizar que los empleados no estén sobreexpuestos. La Tabla 1 es una alternativa flexible que señala 18 tareas de construcción frecuentes que generan altas exposiciones a la sílice cristalina respirable y especifica controles de ingeniería, prácticas de trabajo y protección respiratoria para cada tarea.
  Spanish 04/29/2022
Hazard alerts
- Dust control during tuckpointing
  Construction workers are exposed to hazardous dust when grinding or cutting mortar or cement from between the bricks of old buildings.
  English 09/05/2008
References
- Rules with requirements
  We get many calls and emails from employers asking the same question. It begins: “Which of your rules have requirements for…” You can finish the sentence with words like “recordkeeping,” “employee training,” and “written documents.” To answer those questions, we’ve organized these rules requirements into a filterable, sortable, searchable table.
  English 05/10/2019

Education and training

Online course
- Capacitación sobre los peligros de la Sílice
  During this course you will learn: how to identify potential silica exposure hazards, how to evaluate them and options for controlling them, including engineering controls, management controls and personal protective equipment.
  Spanish Online course
- Silica Safety online course
  During this course you will learn: how to identify potential silica exposure hazards, how to evaluate them and options for controlling them, including engineering controls, management controls and personal protective equipment.
  English Online course

Rules and rule-related

Final Rules
- Division 2, Subdivision Z, 437-002-0382, Oregon Rules for Air Contaminants
  Administrative Order 11-2021 Word version
- Division 2, Subdivision Z, Silica
  3-2019 Word version
- Division 3, Subdivision Z, Toxic and Hazardous Substances
  Administrative Order 11-2021 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision Z, Chemical/Toxins
  Administrative Order 4-2022 Word version
Interpretations
- Dry sweeping compound
  04/14/2017
Program Directives
- Silica
  Purpose: This directive establishes Oregon OSHA’s field inspection procedures designed to ensure uniformity when addressing silica exposures in the workplace for enforcement and consultation activities.
  A-300 07/19/2019
Summary of comments and decisions

Video Resources

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Silica and Silicosis
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Additional Resources

Highlights

Publication thumbnail - It's not just dust!
It's not just dust! What you should know about silicosis and crystalline silica