Silica Dust Safety in Construction

What is the Silica Dust Safety in Construction?

The Silica Dust Safety in Construction course from the American Institute of Safety Professionals provides dedicated, in-depth training on OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1153 (Respirable Crystalline Silica in Construction), the standard that prevents silicosis, lung cancer, and other silica-related diseases in construction workers. Silica exposure occurs whenever construction activities disturb materials containing crystalline silica: cutting concrete, drilling masonry, grinding stone, jackhammering, tuckpointing, and abrasive blasting with sand. The resulting respirable dust particles are too small to see but cause permanent, incurable lung disease. While the Health Hazards in Construction course covers silica as one of many health hazards, this dedicated course provides the full Table 1 competency: the 18 construction tasks listed in Table 1 with the specific engineering controls, work practices, and respiratory protection specified for each. This is the depth that competent persons, supervisors, and safety officers need to implement 1926.1153 correctly on every project. The curriculum covers silica health effects (silicosis types, lung cancer, COPD, kidney disease, autoimmune conditions), which construction materials contain silica (concrete, morite, granite, sandstone, brick, tile), which construction tasks generate respirable silica (and at what exposure levels), the OSHA PEL (50 µg/m³ as an 8-hour TWA), Table 1 task-by-task specified controls (the engineering control, work practice, and respiratory protection for each of 18 tasks), alternative exposure control plans (when Table 1 does not apply), exposure monitoring requirements, medical surveillance (chest X-ray, pulmonary function, TB screening), competent person designation and duties, written exposure control plan, and the housekeeping requirements (no dry sweeping, no compressed air cleaning). All training is delivered 100 percent online through the American Institute of Safety Professionals LMS. Upon completion, graduates receive a certificate, wallet card, and transcript, employer-verifiable at amiosp.com/student-verifications.

Who should take this course?

• Concrete cutters, masons, and workers performing silica-generating tasks
• Construction supervisors overseeing silica-generating work
• Competent persons designated for silica compliance per 1926.1153
• Safety officers managing silica exposure control programmes
• Occupational health professionals managing medical surveillance
• Any construction employer whose workers disturb silica-containing materials

What will you study?

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