OSHA silica compliance checklist for stone fabricators.
Respirable crystalline silica is a serious hazard in stone fabrication. This checklist covers the controls OSHA expects before, during, and after cutting.
Know your exposure limit (PEL)
The OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica is 50 micrograms per cubic meter, averaged over an 8-hour shift. That number is the line your controls are built to stay under. For a deeper walkthrough of the standard and what it means for daily operations, see our full OSHA silica compliance guide.
Start by listing every task that generates dust: cutting, grinding, polishing, dry shaping, and even sweeping dry debris. Each of those tasks is a potential exposure point, and each needs a control or a monitoring plan attached to it. If you do not know the number at your station, you cannot claim you are below it.
Written exposure control plan
OSHA requires a written exposure control plan that identifies silica-generating tasks, names the controls used, and assigns a competent person to own the program. Keep it on the floor, not in a drawer — employees should be able to read it, and it should change when a new saw, material, or process arrives.
The plan is also your defense if inspected. A shop that can show a current plan, assigned ownership, and evidence of controls in use is in a fundamentally different position than one relying on good intentions. Treat it as a living document reviewed at least annually.
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Engineering controls: wet cutting and downdraft
Controls come in order of preference: eliminate the hazard, then engineer it out, then administrative controls, then PPE. For stone, that means water suppression on saws and grinders, downdraft tables or local exhaust at fabrication stations, and enclosed or automated cutting where volume justifies it.
Wet cutting only works if the water actually reaches the blade and flow is maintained — a dry cutoff mid-cut is a dust spike. Check nozzles, pressure, and collection regularly, and log the checks so you can prove the system was functioning on any given day.
Respiratory protection and PPE
Respirators are the backstop, not the first line. When engineering controls cannot get exposure to or below the PEL, a respirator is required — and that triggers a full respiratory protection program: medical evaluation, fit testing, training, and written procedures. Respirators must be NIOSH-approved for silica and properly fitted.
Do not let respirators become a substitute for fixing the source. A shop leaning on masks while saws run dry is upside down on the hierarchy of controls and exposed to both fines and long-term health harm. PPE also extends to eye and hearing protection at noisy, wet stations.
Training and signage
Every worker who may be exposed needs training on silica hazards, the controls in place, and how to use them correctly. Training is required when the program starts, when new tasks appear, and when controls change. Post clear signage at dust-generating stations so the expectation is visible, not assumed.
Training is most effective when it is specific to your shop: the actual saws, the actual water setup, the actual cleanup routine. Generic handouts do little if the crew cannot connect them to the machine in front of them. Our shop management guide covers how documented procedures keep training consistent as you hire.
Records and medical surveillance
Keep records of exposure assessments, training dates, respirator fit tests, and — for employees required to wear respirators — medical evaluations. Where exposure is at or above the action level over 30 days a year, OSHA requires medical surveillance including a baseline and periodic respiratory exam.
Good records are also good operations. A simple log of which jobs used which slabs and which controls, tied to your job system, means an inspector (or a future you) can reconstruct the story of any given week. Explore the Lithiq platform features that keep job and safety documentation in one place.
A one-page daily checklist
Turn the above into a short daily pre-shift routine your lead can run in two minutes:
- Water flow verified at every wet saw and grinder before startup.
- Downdraft and exhaust checked and filters clear at fabrication stations.
- PPE available and fitted for anyone entering a high-dust area.
- Signage posted and housekeeping (wet cleanup, no dry sweeping) assigned.
- Respirator wearers confirmed current on medical eval and fit test.
- Anomalies logged — a clogged nozzle or a broken collector gets fixed, not worked around.
Printed and clipped to the board, this single page keeps the program real on the busiest day. Pair it with your written plan and the deeper guidance in our full OSHA compliance guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the OSHA respirable silica PEL?
The OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica is 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged over an 8-hour shift. Fabricators who cut, grind, or polish stone must keep worker exposure at or below this level using engineering controls first, not respirators alone.
Do I need a written exposure control plan?
Yes. Employers must establish and implement a written exposure control plan that identifies tasks that generate silica, specifies the controls used, and names a competent person responsible for the program. The plan should be available to employees and updated as tasks or equipment change.
When is a respirator required?
A respirator is required when engineering and work-practice controls do not reduce exposure to or below the PEL. Respirator use then triggers a full respiratory protection program: medical evaluation, fit testing, training, and a written program. Controls like wet cutting come first; respirators are the backstop.
Keep your shop compliant and your team safe.
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