Silica Dust Compliance for Demolition Contractors
Cutting, grinding or breaking concrete can put respirable crystalline silica into the air. What the crew needs depends on the task, equipment, hours worked and the controls used.
Choose the compliance method for each task
OSHA’s construction silica standard, 29 CFR 1926.1153, gives employers two ways to control exposure. For tasks listed in Table 1, the employer can fully and properly use the specified engineering controls, work practices and respiratory protection. If the task is not listed—or the Table 1 method is not fully used—the employer follows the alternative method, which includes assessing exposure and controlling it to the standard’s limits.
The action level is 25 micrograms per cubic meter, and the permissible exposure limit is 50 micrograms per cubic meter, each as an eight-hour time-weighted average. OSHA’s standard includes an exception when exposure will remain below the action level under foreseeable conditions. A task name alone does not tell you which compliance method or controls apply.
Put the plan in writing
Employers subject to the standard must establish and implement a written exposure control plan. It describes the silica-generating tasks, the controls and work practices used for those tasks, respiratory protection, housekeeping measures and any procedures for restricting access. The employer must designate a competent person to implement the plan.
For a demolition crew, start with the actual sequence: which concrete or masonry will be cut or broken, what tool will be used, whether water delivery or dust collection is available, and how long the task will run. The written plan should match that work and equipment. If conditions change, check whether the selected method still fits.
Housekeeping and respiratory protection
The standard restricts dry sweeping and dry brushing where safer methods—such as wet sweeping, HEPA-filtered vacuuming or another method that minimizes dust—are feasible. It also limits the use of compressed air for cleaning. Set out the cleanup method before dust is generated, not after debris is on the ground.
Respiratory protection is part of the selected method where the standard requires it. Table 1 specifies when it is needed for a listed task based on the hours worked. Under the alternative method, respiratory protection supplements engineering and work-practice controls when those controls alone cannot keep exposure within the permissible limit. Follow the applicable respiratory-protection requirements, including medical evaluation and fit testing.
Before the task starts
- List the silica-generating tasks and the tools or equipment involved.
- Decide whether each task will follow Table 1 or the alternative exposure-assessment method.
- Confirm the water delivery, dust collection, ventilation or other specified controls are available and maintained.
- Write down the housekeeping method and any access restrictions needed to limit exposure.
- Make sure workers understand the hazards and the controls for the task.
- Assign a competent person to implement the exposure control plan.
I can help prepare a written exposure-control document from the tasks, tools and processes you provide. Blueprint Safety works remotely; I do not sample the air, measure exposure or select respirators for employees.
Use OSHA’s current standard and Table 1 for the specific task. This article is a general overview, not an exposure assessment or a substitute for the employer’s respiratory-protection program.