OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1053 requires employers to provide training to all workers who are or may be exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level of 25 micrograms per cubic meter of air (25 µg/m³) as an 8-hour time-weighted average. This applies to workers in general industry, manufacturing, and maritime environments. Employers must assess worker exposure levels and provide training when exposure reaches the action level.

The course takes approximately 1 hour to complete. Because it is self-paced, you can complete it in a single session or over multiple sessions at your convenience. Most students finish in a single sitting. You have 6 months from your enrollment date to complete all coursework. Progress is saved automatically on the same device, so you can stop and resume at any time.

The Crystalline Silica General Industry course is built to OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1053, which applies to general industry, manufacturing, and maritime workplaces. The Crystalline Silica in Construction course is built to OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1153, which applies specifically to construction job sites and includes OSHA Table 1 specified exposure control methods for common construction tasks. The general industry standard does not include Table 1. Take the course that matches your industry and work environment.

The course covers: what crystalline silica is and where it is found in general industry materials; health effects of silica exposure including silicosis, lung cancer, COPD, and kidney disease; common general industry tasks that generate silica dust; OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1053 requirements; permissible exposure limits (PEL of 50 µg/m³) and action levels (25 µg/m³); engineering controls including ventilation, wet methods, and dust collection; work practice controls; respiratory protection requirements; medical surveillance for exposed workers; and the written exposure control plan.

You must score at least 70% on the final exam to pass and receive your certificate of completion. If you do not pass on your first attempt, you can retake the exam.

Yes. eTraining’s course is built from the OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1053 standard for silica safety in general industry and is accepted nationwide. You receive a printable certificate of completion that references the OSHA standard. Employers across all 50 U.S. states accept this training for silica safety compliance.

Yes. The course works on desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Your progress is saved automatically on the same device you are using, allowing you to pause and pick up where you left off. Note: you must continue on the same device to retain your saved progress.

Silicosis is an incurable and sometimes fatal lung disease caused by inhaling respirable crystalline silica dust over time. Silica particles scar the lung tissue, making it increasingly difficult to breathe. There are three forms: chronic silicosis (develops after 10+ years of lower-level exposure), accelerated silicosis (develops within 5–10 years of higher-level exposure), and acute silicosis (develops within weeks to months of extremely high exposure). There is no cure for silicosis. Prevention through proper exposure controls is the only protection.

There is no specific federal expiration date for crystalline silica training certificates. However, OSHA requires employers to ensure that workers maintain current knowledge of silica hazards and controls. Retraining is recommended when new silica-generating tasks are introduced, when exposure conditions change, or when workers demonstrate inadequate understanding of silica safety procedures.