OccuPros Safety Academy | Online Theory
Silica Awareness: Respirable Crystalline Silica
The dust from cutting concrete, block, brick, and stone looks like nothing. You cannot even see the part that hurts you. This course makes the invisible visible, so you can protect your lungs while there is still something to protect.
Silica does not look like a hazard. There is no sharp edge, no live wire, no moving part to guard. It is just a little dust hanging in the air after you cut a slab or grind a wall, the kind of thing a crew has breathed for a hundred years without thinking twice. That is exactly why it is so dangerous. The particles that scar your lungs are far too small to see, so the warning never arrives. By the time a worker feels short of breath, the damage is often already done, and there is no undo button for it.
Here is the part that should make every one of us pay attention: silicosis is incurable, but it is also almost entirely preventable. Nearly every case has the same fingerprints on it. Dry cutting with no water. A grinder with no vacuum. A shop swept out with a broom or blown clean with an air hose. A worker who figured it was “just dust.” This course takes those patterns apart so you can recognize the hazard, understand the simple controls that stop it cold, and keep your lungs working long after the job is done.
What you will learn
- What respirable crystalline silica actually is, where it comes from, and why the dangerous part is invisible.
- The health toll: silicosis, lung cancer, COPD, and kidney disease, and why it can show up years after the exposure.
- The law, the exposure limits, and the written exposure control plan your employer must have.
- The controls that work, in order: wet methods, ventilation and vacuum dust collection, and respirators as the last line.
- Housekeeping done right (no dry sweeping, no compressed air), plus medical surveillance and the competent person.
Who this is for
Aligned with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1053 and 29 CFR 1926.1153 (Respirable Crystalline Silica) and NIOSH guidance. Online awareness and information training that supports your employer’s written exposure control plan and required site-specific silica training. It does not replace them. OccuPros | (469) 746-4040 | occupros.com | Every Worker Home Safe.
Course References
- OSHA standards and guidance applicable to Silica Awareness (Respirable Crystalline Silica)
- Employer written safety procedures and site-specific plans
- Manufacturer instructions, SDSs, permits, inspection forms, and emergency action plans when applicable
Applicable Industries:
OccuPros Safety Instructor Team
Every OccuPros course is developed and reviewed by our team of Certified Safety Professionals (CSP) and Safety Management Specialists (SMS) with 15+ years of field experience across construction, oil & gas, manufacturing, and general industry. Our instructors don't just teach safety - they've managed safety programs on active jobsites, conducted OSHA compliance audits, and published 184 safety course topics nationwide.
Before you buy
The practical questions, answered plainly.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes. When you finish the course and pass the assessment, your certificate of completion is available to download immediately from your dashboard. It carries a verification number.
How long do I have access?
Access to this course does not expire. It is self-paced, so you can start, stop and resume whenever you like, and your progress is saved between sessions.
What if I fail the assessment?
You can retake it. Knowledge checks run through the course and the final assessment draws from a larger question bank, so a retake will not simply repeat the same questions.
Does this replace hands-on training?
This course delivers the knowledge portion. Site-specific procedures, equipment-specific practice and any required practical evaluation remain your employer's responsibility, and the course is explicit about where those lines fall.
How often does this training need repeating?
The recommended refresher cadence for this topic is annually (and when tasks or controls change). Retraining is also triggered by a change in process or equipment, or by an observed gap in an employee's knowledge.
Can I buy this for my whole crew?
Yes. Choose "My team" on this page to buy seats instead of a single enrolment. You become the team administrator, assign seats from your Team Portal as people join, and volume pricing applies automatically at 5 seats and again at 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Silica Awareness course cover?
It explains respirable crystalline silica, the tasks that generate it, and the health effects of overexposure such as silicosis. You will learn about exposure controls, wet cutting methods, ventilation, and respiratory protection basics. The training aligns with the general OSHA respirable crystalline silica standard.
Who should take respirable crystalline silica awareness training?
It is aimed at construction and general industry workers who cut, grind, or drill materials like concrete, stone, or masonry, plus their supervisors. Anyone helping implement a silica exposure control plan will benefit. No background knowledge is required to start.
Is a certificate included with this course?
Yes. You can download a digital Certificate of Completion once you finish. It documents that you completed silica awareness training.
Is the course fully online and self-paced?
Yes. You complete everything online at your own pace, with no scheduled class times. You can pause and resume on any device with internet access.
