The New Silica Standard includes which of the following protective measures?

• A. Hearing protection
• B. Eye protection
• C. Respiratory protection
• D. Foot protection

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is protecting workers from breathing in harmful silica dust. Crystalline silica is dangerous when inhaled, so the standard focuses on keeping airborne exposure under control and, when needed, using respiratory protection to prevent lung injury.

Respiratory protection is required when engineering and administrative controls can’t bring the dust exposure down to or below the permissible limit. In other words, if dust controls aren’t enough, workers must use respirators as part of a formal respiratory protection program, which includes proper selection, fit testing, medical evaluation, training, and maintenance. This focus on breathing protection is why this option is the best choice.

Hearing protection, eye protection, and foot protection aren’t the specific safeguards addressed by the silica standard itself, though they may be used for other hazards in a job. The silica standard targets preventing inhalation of respirable silica particles, so respiratory protection is the key protective measure.