Respirable Crystalline Silica: Advanced Sampling & Analysis for OSHA/MSHA Compliance

Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) remains one of the most significant occupational health hazards across construction, manufacturing, and mining industries, with renewed regulatory scrutiny and enforcement activity in recent years. This presentation provides an in-depth technical and regulatory overview of respirable crystalline silica exposure assessment, with a specific focus on current OSHA requirements and the 2025 MSHA final rule updates that align permissible exposure limits (PEL) to 50 µg/m³.

Participants will gain a practical understanding of the health risks associated with RCS exposure, the regulatory framework governing compliance, and the critical role of defensible exposure monitoring. The session addresses common real-world failures in silica exposure assessment—including improper sampler selection, inadequate Similar Exposure Group (SEG) definition, insufficient sampling duration, and chain-of-custody deficiencies—and their potential regulatory, legal, and financial consequences.

The presentation details advanced respirable sampling strategies, comparing traditional cyclone samplers with newly approved Personal Particulate Impactor (PPI) samplers, including their operational considerations, flow rate requirements, and applicability under OSHA and MSHA regulations. Laboratory analytical methods are also discussed, with emphasis on NIOSH Method 7500 (X-ray diffraction) and Method 7602 (infrared spectroscopy), highlighting method selection, detection limits, polymorph identification, and quality assurance requirements.

Designed for industrial hygienists, safety professionals, consultants, and regulatory stakeholders, this session bridges regulatory expectations with practical field and laboratory implementation, providing actionable guidance to improve compliance, reduce liability, and enhance worker health protection in silica-exposed environments.

Airdate:  Thursday, February 3, 2026 - 12:00 PM ET
 
Length:  60 minutes 

Presenter: Leandro Magalhaes - Eurofins Built Environment Testing