The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has identified the restoration industry as a priority enforcement target for its crystalline silica standard, following a series of silicosis diagnoses among relatively young restoration workers who were exposed to silica dust during demolition and reconstruction activities.
Crystalline silica is a common mineral found in concrete, masonry, tile, and engineered stone. When these materials are cut, ground, or demolished, fine silica particles become airborne and can be inhaled deep into the lungs. Repeated exposure causes silicosis, an irreversible and potentially fatal lung disease, and is also associated with lung cancer and kidney disease.
OSHA's crystalline silica standard for construction, which took effect in 2017, requires employers to limit worker exposure to silica dust below the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air averaged over an eight-hour day. Employers must use engineering controls — such as wet methods and local exhaust ventilation — to reduce exposure, and must provide respiratory protection when controls are insufficient.
Restoration contractors are particularly at risk of silica exposure during post-fire and post-flood demolition, where concrete and masonry structures may be cut or demolished without adequate dust controls. OSHA inspectors have cited restoration firms for silica violations in multiple states in 2026.
The standard also requires medical surveillance for workers who are exposed to silica above the action level (25 micrograms per cubic meter) for 30 or more days per year. Medical surveillance includes a baseline chest X-ray and periodic follow-up examinations.
Industry training organizations are developing silica awareness programs for restoration contractors, and the IICRC is expected to incorporate silica exposure guidance into its next revision of the S500 and S520 standards.
