Respirable crystalline silica
For Respirable crystalline silica, cfr section is 1910.1053; action level is a concentration of airborne respirable crystalline silica of 25 µg/m 3, calculated as an 8-hour TWA; pel is an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica in excess of 50 µg/m 3, calculated as an 8-hour TWA; surveillance trigger is each employee who will be occupationally exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year; exam frequency is at least every three years, or more frequently if recommended by the PLHCP, verified against its source on 2026-09-17.
- Substance
- Respirable crystalline silica verified
- CFR section
- 1910.1053
- Action level
- a concentration of airborne respirable crystalline silica of 25 µg/m 3, calculated as an 8-hour TWA verified
- PEL
- an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica in excess of 50 µg/m 3, calculated as an 8-hour TWA verified
- Surveillance trigger
- each employee who will be occupationally exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year verified
- Exam frequency
- at least every three years, or more frequently if recommended by the PLHCP verified
- Record retention
- The employer shall ensure that medical records are maintained and made available in accordance with verified
What the source says
Medical surveillance —(1) General. (i) The employer shall make medical surveillance available at no cost to the employee, and at a reasonable time and place, for each employee who will be occupationally exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year.
— law.cornell.edu, retrieved 2026-08-12
Where each value comes from
This source states these in separate places, so each value is shown with the passage that states it.
Action level
(i) The task performed is indistinguishable from a construction task listed on Table 1 in paragraph (c) of 29 CFR 1926.1153 ; and (ii) The task will not be performed regularly in the same environment and conditions. (b) Definitions. For the purposes of this section the following definitions apply: Action level means a concentration of airborne respirable crystalline silica of 25 µg/m 3, calculated as an 8-hour TWA.
PEL
Specialist means an American Board Certified Specialist in Pulmonary Disease or an American Board Certified Specialist in Occupational Medicine. This section means this respirable crystalline silica standard , 29 CFR 1910.1053 . (c) Permissible exposure limit (PEL). The employer shall ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica in excess of 50 µg/m 3, calculated as an 8-hour TWA.
Exam frequency
(v) Testing for latent tuberculosis infection; and (vi) Any other tests deemed appropriate by the PLHCP. (3) Periodic examinations. The employer shall make available medical examinations that include the procedures described in paragraph (i)(2) of this section (except paragraph (i)(2)(v)) at least every three years, or more frequently if recommended by the PLHCP.
Record retention
(i) The employer shall make and maintain an accurate record for each employee covered by medical surveillance under paragraph (i) of this section. (ii) The record shall include the following information about the employee: (A) Name; (B) A copy of the PLHCPs' and specialists' written medical opinions; and (C) A copy of the information provided to the PLHCPs and specialists. (iii) The employer shall ensure that medical records are maintained and made available in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1020 .
— all from law.cornell.edu, retrieved 2026-08-12
Source
- law.cornell.eduhttps://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/29/1910.1053