Academy of Occupational Health & Risk Scienceshttps://aohrs.org/2026-11-02T23:46:12.221985-08:00OSHA Compliant Vacuum for Silica Dust and Which Ones Qualifyhttps://aohrs.org/osha-compliant-vacuum-for-silica-dust-and-which-ones-qualify/2026-11-02T21:18:41.931449-08:002026-11-02T21:18:41.931449-08:00David PattersonOSHA does not certify or approve any vacuum for silica dust. A vacuum or dust extractor qualifies under Table 1 of 29 CFR 1926.1153 when its airflow, filter...Best Respirator for Silica Dust by Taskhttps://aohrs.org/best-respirator-for-silica-dust-by-task/2026-11-02T21:08:41.931449-08:002026-11-02T21:08:41.931449-08:00Nicole BrennanFor most silica tasks that call for APF 10, the pick is the 3M 6502QL Rugged Comfort Half Facepiece with 3M 2091 P100 filters. For a short job that still...OSHA Silica Medical Surveillance and Who Needs an Examhttps://aohrs.org/osha-silica-medical-surveillance-and-who-needs-an-exam/2026-11-02T20:58:41.931449-08:002026-11-02T20:58:41.931449-08:00David PattersonOSHA's respirable crystalline silica standards require an employer to offer a medical exam to any worker whose silica exposure crosses a set threshold on 30...Common OSHA Silica Violations and What They Costhttps://aohrs.org/common-osha-silica-violations-and-what-they-cost/2026-11-02T20:48:41.931449-08:002026-11-02T20:48:41.931449-08:00Nicole BrennanAn OSHA silica violation is a citation for failing to meet one provision of the respirable crystalline silica standards: 29 CFR 1910.1053 for general...OSHA Silica Standard General Industry vs Constructionhttps://aohrs.org/osha-silica-standard-general-industry-vs-construction/2026-10-26T21:52:18.270512-07:002026-10-26T21:52:18.270512-07:00Diane FosterIf the work is construction, 29 CFR 1926.1153 applies. If the work is any other silica-generating work outside agriculture, 29 CFR 1910.1053 applies. Both...OSHA Table 1 Silica Tasks and Required Controlshttps://aohrs.org/osha-table-1-silica-tasks-and-required-controls/2026-10-19T21:09:49.611399-07:002026-10-19T21:09:49.611399-07:00Diane FosterTable 1 is a list in OSHA's construction silica standard, 29 CFR 1926.1153c. It pairs common silica-generating tasks with a required set of controls. If an...M Class vs H Class Dust Extractors for OSHA Silica Workhttps://aohrs.org/does-osha-recognize-m-class-or-h-class-vacuums/2026-10-12T20:16:54.323855-07:002026-11-02T23:46:12.221985-08:00Nicole BrennanM class and H class are dust categories from the European standard EN 60335-2-69. They are not OSHA designations. OSHA's construction silica standard, 29...Can a Regular Shop Vac Handle Silica Dusthttps://aohrs.org/can-a-regular-shop-vac-handle-silica-dust/2026-10-09T19:13:17.268205-07:002026-11-02T22:21:34.408475-08:00Nicole BrennanA shop vac with its stock filter should not be used on silica dust where the cleanup could expose employees, because OSHA's construction silica standard...Can You Use Compressed Air to Clean Silica Dusthttps://aohrs.org/is-compressed-air-banned-for-silica-dust-cleanup/2026-10-06T18:13:06.320466-07:002026-10-06T18:13:06.320466-07:00Diane FosterUnder OSHA's silica rules, an employer may not allow compressed air to be used to clean clothing or surfaces where that could contribute to silica exposure....OSHA HEPA Vacuum Requirements for Silica Dusthttps://aohrs.org/the-hepa-rating-osha-requires-for-silica-vacuums/2026-10-03T17:12:38.160952-07:002026-10-03T17:12:38.160952-07:00Diane FosterOSHA's silica standards use two filter ratings for vacuums: a dust collector with 99% or greater filter efficiency, and a HEPA filter that is at least...Silica Objective Data and When It Replaces Air Monitoringhttps://aohrs.org/silica-objective-data-and-when-it-replaces-air-monitoring/2026-09-30T16:14:05.915261-07:002026-09-30T16:14:05.915261-07:00Nicole BrennanLast updated September 30, 2026. This page produces a documented decision on one silica task. The decision is whether objective data shows that exposure...OSHA Silica National Emphasis Program and Who It Targetshttps://aohrs.org/osha-silica-national-emphasis-program-and-who-it-targets/2026-09-27T15:13:15.404821-07:002026-09-27T15:13:15.404821-07:00David PattersonOSHA's National Emphasis Program NEP on respirable crystalline silica is the directive that tells OSHA offices which employers to put on silica inspection...What OSHA's Silica Exposure Control Plan Must Includehttps://aohrs.org/what-oshas-silica-exposure-control-plan-must-include/2026-09-21T15:14:46.869480-07:002026-09-21T15:14:46.869480-07:00David PattersonA written exposure control plan is required under paragraph g of OSHA's construction silica standard, 29 CFR 1926.1153. The plan has a fixed content list at...Three States Just Rewrote What a Workplace Violence Emergency Plan Must Includehttps://aohrs.org/three-states-just-rewrote-what-a-workplace-violence-emergency-plan-must-include/2026-09-16T23:05:00.721477-07:002026-09-16T23:05:00.721477-07:00David PattersonA workplace violence prevention plan is a written document that names who is responsible for violence hazards at a site, how employees report an incident,...What OSHA's Renewed Warehouse Inspection Program Actually Changes for Your Facilityhttps://aohrs.org/what-oshas-renewed-warehouse-inspection-program-actually-changes-for-your-facility/2026-09-13T22:56:07.137259-07:002026-09-13T22:56:07.137259-07:00David PattersonOSHA Directive CPL-03-00-026 took effect on July 31, 2026. It renews the National Emphasis Program NEP on Warehousing and Distribution Center Operations and...5 Ergonomic Hacks for Remote Workershttps://aohrs.org/5-ergonomic-hacks-for-remote-workers/2026-01-19T12:35:57.497984-08:002026-01-19T12:35:57.497984-08:00David PattersonThe shift to remote work has transformed millions of spare bedrooms, kitchen tables, and living room corners into makeshift offices. While working from home...Biomimetic Ergonomics: Nature's Blueprint for Workplace Wellnesshttps://aohrs.org/biomimetic-ergonomics-natures-blueprint-for-workplace-wellness/2026-01-16T09:06:49.437227-08:002026-01-16T09:06:49.437227-08:00Nicole BrennanFor millions of years, nature has been perfecting solutions to complex problems—from the shock-absorbing structure of woodpecker skulls to the...Mental Health Red Flags in High-Stress Industrieshttps://aohrs.org/mental-health-red-flags-in-high-stress-industries/2026-01-12T19:08:14.243033-08:002026-01-12T19:08:14.243033-08:00Diane FosterA paramedic who hasn't smiled in months. A construction foreman snapping at his crew over minor mistakes. A nurse calling in sick for the third time this...7 Red Flags Managers Miss About Team Stresshttps://aohrs.org/7-red-flags-managers-miss-about-team-stress/2026-01-11T11:05:04.327846-08:002026-01-11T11:05:04.327846-08:00David PattersonYour team member hits every deadline, never complains, and seems perfectly fine in meetings. Six weeks later, they submit their resignation citing burnout....10 Mental Health Red Flags at Workhttps://aohrs.org/10-mental-health-red-flags-at-work/2026-01-08T08:52:23.641496-08:002026-01-08T08:52:23.641496-08:00David PattersonMental health challenges don't announce themselves with a formal notice. They creep into the workplace gradually—through missed deadlines, shortened...5 Early Warning Signs of Workplace Burnouthttps://aohrs.org/5-early-warning-signs-of-workplace-burnout/2026-01-07T08:37:35.649802-08:002026-01-07T08:37:35.649802-08:00Diane FosterBurnout doesn't arrive with a dramatic announcement. It creeps in quietly—through missed deadlines, uncharacteristic irritability, and the gradual dimming...5 Hidden Workplace Hazards Managers Misshttps://aohrs.org/5-hidden-workplace-hazards-managers-miss/2026-01-06T07:59:46.663627-08:002026-01-06T07:59:46.663627-08:00Nicole BrennanEvery workplace has hazards that are immediately obvious—exposed wiring, wet floors, heavy machinery without guards. But the incidents that catch managers...Standing Desks vs Sit-Stand Convertershttps://aohrs.org/standing-desks-vs-sit-stand-converters/2026-01-05T01:10:48.168576-08:002026-01-05T01:10:48.168576-08:00Diane FosterThe shift toward more dynamic workstations has transformed how safety managers approach office ergonomics. With sedentary behavior linked to increased...Workplace Mental Health for Beginnershttps://aohrs.org/workplace-mental-health-for-beginners/2026-01-05T01:10:45.058613-08:002026-01-05T01:10:45.058613-08:00Diane FosterIf you're an HR professional or safety manager who's been tasked with addressing mental health in your workplace—but you're not quite sure where to...The OSHA Silica Standard and How Employers Complyhttps://aohrs.org/2026-osha-silica-standards-explained/2026-01-05T01:10:05.233351-08:002026-10-01T14:17:53.702336-07:00Diane FosterOSHA's silica standard limits how much respirable crystalline silica dust a worker may breathe to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air 50 µg/m³, averaged...How to Build a Heat Illness Response Planhttps://aohrs.org/how-to-build-heat-illness-response-plan/2026-01-05T01:10:01.759453-08:002026-01-05T01:10:01.759453-08:00Diane FosterHeat-related illnesses claim dozens of worker lives each year and send thousands more to emergency rooms. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,...7 Healthcare Worker Occupational Hazards Often Overlookedhttps://aohrs.org/hidden-hazards-healthcare-settings/2026-01-05T01:09:58.704136-08:002026-10-01T14:17:56.254879-07:00Diane FosterThis list covers seven occupational hazards in healthcare that get less attention than needlesticks and patient handling. It is written for safety managers,...Best Safety Training Platforms in 2026https://aohrs.org/best-safety-training-platforms-2026/2026-01-05T01:09:54.591140-08:002026-10-07T03:14:25.874163-07:00Diane FosterWorkplace injuries are costly for U.S. employers every year, and the National Safety Council publishes the current estimate. For safety directors tasked...