The Respirable Crystalline Silica course is a self-paced, OSHA-aligned online training program from The Training Institute. Respirable Crystalline Silica delivers in-depth instruction, a final assessment, and a printable certificate of completion the moment you pass.

About the Respirable Crystalline Silica Course

This Respirable Crystalline Silica training course delivers a complete learning package built around OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1153 (Construction) and 29 CFR 1910.1053 (General Industry). Enrollees receive interactive modules covering silica hazard recognition, Table 1 specified exposure control methods, the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time-weighted average, the Action Level of 25 micrograms per cubic meter, and the written Exposure Control Plan required for all covered employers. Downloadable materials include a sample Exposure Control Plan template, Table 1 task reference cards for concrete cutting, handheld grinders, walk-behind saws, stationary masonry saws, dowel drilling rigs, jackhammers, and large drivable milling machines, medical surveillance tracking forms, PLHCP written medical opinion templates, respirator medical evaluation questionnaires, and respirator selection guidance aligned with 29 CFR 1910.134. Learners also access video demonstrations of wet methods, HEPA-filtered vacuum dust collection, enclosed cabs with positive pressure ventilation, and housekeeping practices that avoid dry sweeping and compressed air. Additional resources include a competent person designation letter template, an exposure assessment flowchart for work not listed on Table 1, and sample toolbox talks in English and Spanish for daily crew briefings. A recordkeeping checklist aligned with the 30-year silica exposure retention requirement and a certificate of completion are included.

What You Will Learn in Respirable Crystalline Silica

After completing this Respirable Crystalline Silica course, participants will be able to implement OSHA silica standard requirements on construction sites and in general industry operations. Graduates will be able to:

• Identify silica-generating tasks such as chipping, sawing, grinding, drilling, crushing, and abrasive blasting on concrete, brick, stone, mortar, tile, and engineered stone.
• Apply the Table 1 specified exposure control methods under 29 CFR 1926.1153 to eliminate the need for task-specific exposure assessments when each control is fully and properly implemented.
• Interpret air sampling results against the 50 micrograms per cubic meter PEL and the 25 micrograms per cubic meter Action Level, including proper rounding and reporting.
• Develop and maintain the written Exposure Control Plan, including identification of tasks, engineering and work practice controls, housekeeping measures, and the designated competent person.
• Select appropriate respiratory protection using assigned protection factors and coordinate the required medical surveillance program, including chest X-rays, lung function tests, and tuberculosis evaluations.
• Train exposed workers annually on silica hazards, Table 1 controls, respirator use, medical surveillance rights, and emergency procedures as required by 29 CFR 1926.1153(i).
• Document training, exposure assessments, objective data, and medical surveillance consistent with OSHA recordkeeping rules and the 30-year retention requirement under 29 CFR 1910.1020.
• Recognize cumulative silica health effects including silicosis, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and kidney disease, and communicate these risks clearly to the workforce.

This prepares employers to pass silica-focused OSHA national and local emphasis program inspections and to protect workers from chronic lung disease and other silica-related illnesses.

Who Should Take Respirable Crystalline Silica

This silica training course is designed for construction contractors, general industry employers, competent persons, safety managers, industrial hygienists, and frontline workers who perform or supervise silica-generating tasks. It is particularly relevant for:

• Concrete cutting, coring, grinding, and polishing crews performing interior renovation or structural demolition work.
• Masonry, tuckpointing, and demolition contractors exposed to silica during brick, block, and stone work.
• Road and bridge construction workers performing asphalt and concrete milling, pavement breaking, or abrasive blasting.
• Foundries, stone fabrication shops, hydraulic fracturing operations, and dental laboratories operating under the general industry standard 29 CFR 1910.1053.
• Safety professionals conducting silica exposure assessments, writing the Exposure Control Plan, or reviewing subcontractor compliance.
• Project managers and superintendents coordinating subcontractor compliance on multi-employer worksites.
• Insurance risk control consultants and industrial hygienists performing compliance reviews for client operations.

Both field personnel and program administrators will find actionable guidance for 29 CFR 1926.1153 and 29 CFR 1910.1053 compliance, including the engineered stone countertop fabrication emphasis added by OSHA to protect workers from rapidly progressive silicosis.

Prerequisites

No specific prerequisites are required to enroll. Participants should have basic familiarity with construction or industrial work environments where concrete, stone, brick, mortar, tile, engineered stone, or silica sand is cut, ground, drilled, crushed, or blasted. A general awareness of OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart D (Occupational Health and Environmental Controls) and the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200 is helpful but not required. Learners will need a modern browser, a reliable internet connection, and approximately six hours to complete the course, review downloadable materials, and pass the final assessment. Printed worker handouts can be generated from the included PDF templates for toolbox talk use and contractor prequalification submissions.

Course Details

Price: $35.00. Browse our full course catalog for more options.

Your Instructor

The Training Institute — Training Institute Instructor Team

The Training Institute is a team of seasoned field experts with decades of hands-on experience across electrical safety, OSHA compliance, confined-space training, and hazardous-materials response. Our instructors combine practical jobsite expertise with proven adult-learning methodology to deliver training that meets — and exceeds — federal and industry standards.

Certificate of Completion

Upon successful completion of this training program, participants receive an official certificate of completion from The Training Institute.

Curriculum

• Respirable Crystalline Silica
  • Respirable Crystalline Silica
  • Respirable Crystalline Silica Quiz
• Course Evaluation
  • Course Review & Completion

Standards & Compliance for Respirable Crystalline Silica

Respirable Crystalline Silica aligns with current OSHA outreach training program guidance and is reviewed regularly against the latest federal standards. Learners completing Respirable Crystalline Silica receive a printable certificate they can submit to employers as documented evidence of safety training, and may purchase additional Training Institute courses to satisfy related annual requirements.