Silica Table 1 is OSHA’s pre-approved deal: run the specified control, get a defined respirator duty — pick the task and the planner returns the exact control and respiratory line from 29 CFR 1926.1153 — follow Table 1 fully and no exposure assessment is required. N95s and half-masks live on N95 respirators and half-mask respirators.
How does silica Table 1 work?
Short answer: each listed construction task pairs an engineering control (integrated water delivery or dust collection) with a respirator duty that depends on duration — fully implementing the specified control exempts you from exposure assessment under 1926.1153(c); tasks not on the table need assessment under paragraph (d), including abrasive blasting.
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OSHA’s respirable crystalline silica standard for construction (29 CFR 1926.1153) lets you skip air monitoring if you fully follow Table 1: a specified dust control and respirator for each task. Pick your task to see the required control. The PEL is 50 µg/m³ (8-hr TWA); the action level is 25 µg/m³.
Respiratory protection for silica
FAQ
What if my task isn’t on Table 1?
Then you must use the “alternative exposure control” path: assess exposures, keep them below the 50 µg/m³ PEL, and provide respirators based on the measured level.
Does a dust mask count?
For silica you need a NIOSH-certified respirator (at least N95 / APF 10), fit-tested, with a written respiratory protection program — not a loose nuisance dust mask.
Simplified summary of OSHA 1926.1153 Table 1 for common tasks. Exact respirator requirements vary by duration (≤4 hr vs >4 hr) and indoor/outdoor use — confirm against the full Table 1 text. General-industry silica is covered by 1910.1053. Not a substitute for a compliant exposure control plan and competent person.
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The written exposure control plan
Table 1 compliance still requires the 1926.1153(g) written exposure control plan — the tasks, the controls, housekeeping limits and the competent person who enforces them. The planner output above is the task-and-control row; the plan wraps it in a document, and respirable crystalline silica medical surveillance attaches once respirator days pass 30 a year.
Our methodology
The task list restates 29 CFR 1926.1153 Table 1 controls and respiratory duties as published (verified against the OSHA rule text July 2026 — including the stationary-saw row, which requires no respirator at any duration when the integrated water control runs); abrasive blasting is flagged as outside Table 1, and the PEL (50 µg/m³) and action level (25 µg/m³) are stated per the rule. Authoritative duties live at OSHA regulations and exposure science at NIOSH. We hold no safety certification, and this tool is not a substitute for professional judgment.
Why trust this page
WC Safety is an independent review site with no products of its own — nothing here is stocked, warehoused or shipped by us. Purchase links go to Amazon and earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. This free tool is informational — it supports, and never replaces, a written program, a hazard assessment, or evaluation by a qualified safety professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is silica Table 1?
The list of common construction tasks in 1926.1153 for which OSHA pre-specifies the engineering control and respirator duty — run the control exactly as written and no exposure monitoring is required.
What if my task is not on Table 1?
Then paragraph (d) applies: assess exposure against the 50 µg/m³ PEL and control accordingly — abrasive blasting sits here, under 1926.57(f) as well, never under Table 1.
When does a Table 1 task require a respirator?
When the table says so — mostly the over-4-hour column and indoor or enclosed work. Several rows, including the stationary masonry saw with integrated water, require none at any duration.
What respirator satisfies APF 10?
A fit-tested N95 filtering facepiece or half-mask under a 1910.134 program — the hazard is particulate, so P100 upgrades add margin, not compliance.
Does wetting with a hose count as the control?
No — Table 1 specifies integrated water-delivery systems on the tool. Improvised wetting drops you off Table 1 and back into exposure assessment.
Is there a medical surveillance duty?
Yes — employees required to wear a respirator 30 or more days a year get medical exams under 1926.1153(h), on a three-year cycle.
Researched and written by Steven Eaton, editor of WC Safety. Steven holds no safety certification and does not test products; this page compares what manufacturers publish, with the gaps in that record marked. Last reviewed July 2026.