Respirable Crystalline Silica
Samantha Selgrath
Penn State’s Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) Program has been established to protect the health of employees and personnel utilizing natural or man-made RCS-containing materials during the course of their work at Penn State properties and facilities, primarily through reducing and controlling airborne dusts which contain RCS.
This work may include various construction, maintenance and academic or research activities. Some examples of RCS-containing material uses include:
- Installing or replacing indoor or outdoor concrete, brick, stone, terrazzo or ceramic tile (cutting, drilling, jackhammering, grinding, milling)
- Installing, replacing and finishing wallboard (drywall) or similar materials
- Geological research involving use of fine sand or other RCS-containing materials
- Material or structural testing of concrete
- Multi-material 3D printing composite-making
- Academic foundry mold-making or related activity
- Clay and ceramic pottery-making
This program is primarily based upon OSHA’s Respirable Crystalline Silica standards applicable to General Industry (29 CFR 1910.1053), and Construction (29 CFR 1926.1153), as pertinent to Penn State operations.
Program Applicability
This program applies to Penn State University employees, student employees, contractors, and visiting academic personnel who perform work that involves or disturbs materials containing respirable crystalline silica (RCS), including activities in:
- Construction
- Maintenance
- Laboratories and academic settings
- Other applicable work environments
The program applies to all RCS exposure except traditional agriculture and addresses requirements of the OSHA silica standards:
- 29 CFR 1926.1153 (Construction)
- 29 CFR 1910.1053 (General Industry)
Program Requirements
Penn State manages RCS exposure through the following requirements:
- Conduct an internal exposure review process to identify and evaluate potential RCS exposure
- Limit employee exposure to the OSHA Action Level (AL) of 25 μg/m³ as an 8‑hour time‑weighted average (TWA₈)
- Use contractors for work anticipated to exceed the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 μg/m³ TWA₈, where OSHA administrative controls apply
- Develop and implement a written exposure control plan for tasks that may meet or exceed the OSHA AL
- Plans must identify covered tasks, engineering and work practice controls, respirator use, and housekeeping methods
- Provide medical surveillance and respirators when:
- Exposure may exceed the OSHA AL for 30 or more days per year, or
- Respirator use is required for any reason
- Follow 29 CFR 1926.1153 Table 1 requirements for construction tasks when exposure monitoring is not performed
- Comply with all respirator-related requirements under the Penn State Respiratory Protection Program (RPP)
- Complete required training, including:
- Online training through LRN
- Job‑specific training, as applicable
Roles and Responsibilities
Managers and Supervisors must:
- Understand RCS program requirements
- Ensure employees receive required training and medical clearance
- Ensure controls, equipment, respirators, and housekeeping practices are available and used, as outlined in the written exposure control plan
- Maintain site compliance and support EHS during program evaluations
Employees must:
- Follow all program requirements
- Report new or potential silica exposures to supervisors, safety representatives, and EHS
EHS and Safety Officers/Representatives must:
- Establish and implement program policies, procedures, and exposure control plans
- Provide guidance to ensure OSHA compliance
- Periodically review and update the RCS program
Documents and Forms
Coming Soon.