Reference

The general industry silica standard has the same exposure limit as the construction rule and none of its shortcuts. There is no Table 1 to follow, so exposure assessment is not optional. This guide covers which rule governs your work, the two limits, the written exposure control plan and the medical surveillance clock.

Dust extractor vs shop vac is a regulatory line, not a marketing one: OSHA Table 1 specifies 25 CFM per inch of wheel and 99%-or-greater filters for grinder dust collection, and reserves the HEPA term - 99.97% at 0.3 micrometers - for housekeeping vacuums. Covers CFM vs water lift, filter certification, and the respirator pairing.