Workers do not have to get sick when working with materials containing silica. Silica-related illnesses are preventable. 

Contractors can:

• Comply with OSHA’s Crystalline Silica Standard for the Construction Industry (1926.1153) or OSHA’s Crystalline Silica Standard for General Industry (for contractors working in the oil & gas industry) (1910.1053).
• Assign a competent person to identify and control for silica on the job. This individual should be capable of identifying existing and foreseeable respirable crystalline silica hazards in the workplace and have authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate or minimize them. The competent person must have the knowledge and ability necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of the written exposure control plan required by the standard.
• Use vacuums, water, substitutes, or different work practices to reduce or eliminate the dust. See best practice tips for Table 1 equipment control options. 
• Provide workers with respiratory protection when other controls are not enough. Respirators must be properly fitted and appropriate for the exposure. As noted in the construction standard, employers who have employees that are required to wear a respirator for 30 or more days a year under the standard must have a medical surveillance program. Learn more about Medical Monitoring Under the OSHA Silica Standard for the Construction Industry in a Guide for Employers.
• Use a substitute material instead of sand when abrasive blasting. 
• Create a plan for working safely with silica. The “Create-A-Plan” tool on this website walks users through simple steps to identify a silica hazard, ways to control the dust, and actions to work safely with silica. This tool can help employers comply with the requirement in the standard for a written exposure control plan.
• Train employees on: the health effects of silica; the contents of the silica standard; specific workplace tasks that could expose them to silica; specific measure being taken to protect them from silica (including engineering controls, work practices, and respiratory protection); the identity of the competent person; and the purpose and description of the medical surveillance program required under the standard. For training resources, see our Training & Other Resources page.

Workers can:

• Use the equipment and follow work practices provided to them by their employer to control the dust. The controls won’t work if they’re not used. 
• Be aware of the operations and the job tasks that can create crystalline silica exposures and know the steps that should be taken to prevent exposures.
• Participate in training, exposure monitoring, and health screening and surveillance programs to monitor any adverse health effects caused by crystalline silica exposures.
• Wear disposable or washable work clothes and shower if facilities are available. Vacuum the dust from your clothes and change into clean clothing before leaving the jobsite. Do not brush or blow the dust off! Do not bring dust home!
• Be aware of the health hazards related to exposures to crystalline silica. Smoking adds to the lung damage caused by silica exposures.
• Avoid eating, drinking, smoking, or applying cosmetics in areas where crystalline silica dust is present. Wash your hands and face outside of dusty areas before performing any of these activities.
• Provide your doctor with a copy of the Physicians’ Alert for Silicosis and Silica-related Illnesses (Spanish) to ensure you are properly diagnosed and treated. Many cases of silicosis and silica-related illnesses are misdiagnosed because physicians are unaware of their patient’s work history and unfamiliar with the signs and symptoms associated with this occupational illness. Without proper diagnosis and reporting, workers cannot receive suitable medical treatment and advice.

To learn more …

• Don’t Let Silica Dust You! (video), Occupational Health Internship Program, 2011
• Silica Hazard Alert  (Spanish), CPWR
• Protect Workers from Silica Dust: Working in an Enclosed Cab (Spanish), CPWR
• Silica Toolbox Talk (Spanish), CPWR
• Silica Toolbox Talk: Prevent Exposure: Silica Dust in Enclosed Cabs (Spanish), CPWR