Crystalline Silica Testing and Monitoring
Respirable crystalline silica is generated during activities that cut, grind, drill, crush, or disturb materials containing quartz, cristobalite, or tridymite. Because these microscopic particles are invisible and remain airborne for long periods, workers may unknowingly inhale hazardous concentrations.
AGT Labs provides precise sampling and accredited analysis to help employers evaluate exposure, improve controls, and comply with OSHA’s silica standards.
Purpose of Crystalline Silica Testing
Respirable crystalline silica (quartz, cristobalite, tridymite) particles can penetrate deep into the lungs. Long-term exposure may cause silicosis, COPD, and lung cancer.
OSHA’s RCS Standard (29 CFR 1910.1053) requires monitoring when exposure may reach or exceed 25 µg/m³ (8-hour TWA).
AGT Labs ensures compliance and worker protection through precision sampling, validated analysis, and practical control recommendations.
Sources of Silica Exposure & High-Risk Work Activities
Silica exposure commonly occurs in operations such as cutting concrete, grinding mortar, jackhammering, abrasive blasting, mining, foundry work, and stone fabrication. These tasks generate fine dust that becomes airborne and respirable.
High-risk tasks require enhanced monitoring and engineering controls to ensure worker protection and OSHA compliance.
Crystalline Silica Testing Overview
AGT Labs determines RCS concentrations using:
- NIOSH 7500: X-ray Diffraction (XRD)
- NIOSH 7602: Infrared Spectrophotometry (IR)
Dust is collected with a cyclone at 1.7 L/min to isolate the respirable fraction onto a pre-weighed PVC filter. All analyses are performed under ISO/IEC 17025 quality systems for defensible, traceable results.
Crystalline Silica Testing Options
Personal Exposure Monitoring
Breathing-zone sampling for OSHA compliance.
Area & Process Zone Monitoring
Evaluate airborne RCS in work areas or control rooms.
Task-Specific Assessments
Short-duration sampling during high-risk operations.
Bulk Material Analysis
Measure silica in raw materials.
Engineering Control Validation
Verify capture and suppression efficiency.
Sampling Media & Equipment Supply
AGT Labs provides full RCS sampling kits compliant with NIOSH 7500, including:
- Pre-weighed PVC filters (37 mm, 5.0 µm)
- Cyclone samplers (Nylon, HD, Aluminum)
- Calibrated pumps & flow meters
- Chain-of-custody and calibration documentation
Exposure Monitoring During High-Dust Activities
Crystalline silica monitoring during cutting, drilling, grinding, and abrasive blasting helps verify the effectiveness of engineering controls such as wet suppression, LEV, and process enclosures.
Post-control and post-remediation verification sampling ensures exposures remain below the OSHA Action Level and PEL.
Accreditation & Standards
Deliverables & Value-Added Services for Crystalline silica Testing
- Total/respirable dust and silica reporting
- Trend and exposure interpretation
- Control evaluation and CIH recommendations
- Worker training & sampling support
Summary
AGT Labs’ RCS Testing delivers precise, accredited results aligned with OSHA and NIOSH standards to ensure worker protection and regulatory compliance.
Contact AGT Labs
Reach out to our team for RCS testing support.
Email: info@agtlabs.com Call: (713) 453-6090
