these notes are extremely important
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Crystalline silica (silica) is found in sand, stone, concrete and mortar.
It is also used to make a variety of products including engineered stone (used to fabricate kitchen and bathroom benchtops), bricks, tiles and some plastics.
When workers cut, crush, drill, polish, saw or grind products that contain crystalline silica, dust particles are generated that are small enough to lodge deep in the lungs and cause serious illness or disease including silicosis.
What is crystalline silica?
Silica is silicon dioxide, a naturally occurring and widely abundant mineral that forms the major component of most rocks and soils. There are non-crystalline and crystalline forms of silicon dioxide. The most common type of crystalline silica is quartz (CAS 14808-60-7).
What is silica dust?
Silica dust or respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is generated in workplace mechanical processes such as crushing, cutting, drilling, grinding, sawing or polishing of natural stone or man-made products that contain silica. RCS can penetrate deep into the lungs and can cause irreversible lung damage.
Work activities that may represent a high-risk exposure
Silica is one of the most abundant minerals found in the earths crust and is used in many products across a variety of industries and workplaces. Crystalline silica is most dangerous to health when dust is generated, becomes airborne and is then inhaled.
Examples of work activities that can generate RCS include:
- Using power tools to cut, grind or polish natural and engineered stone countertops
- excavation, earth moving and drilling plant operations
- clay and stone processing machine operations
- paving and surfacing
- mining, quarrying and mineral ore treating processes
- road construction and tunnelling
- construction labouring and demolition
- brick, concrete or stone cutting; especially using dry methods
- abrasive blasting (blasting agent must not contain greater than 1 per cent of crystalline silica)
- foundry casting
- angle grinding, jack hammering and chiselling of concrete or masonry
- hydraulic fracturing of gas and oil wells
- pottery making
- crushing, loading, hauling and dumping of rock, and
- clean-up activities such as sweeping .
What diseases can silica dust cause?
If a worker is exposed to and breathes in RCS they could develop:
- acute silicosis – can develop after a short exposure to very high levels of silica dust, within a few weeks or years, and causes severe inflammation and an outpouring of protein into the lung
- accelerated silicosis – can develop after exposures of 3 to 10 years to moderate to high levels of silica dust and causes inflammation, protein in the lung and scarring of the lung (fibrotic nodules)
- chronic silicosis – can develop after long term exposure to lower levels of silica dust. It can lead to fibrotic nodules, shortness of breath, and progressive massive fibrosis
- chronic bronchitis
- emphysema
- lung cancer
- kidney damage, or
- scleroderma – a disease of the connective tissue of the body resulting in the formation of scar tissue in the skin, joints and other organs of the body.
Choosing the best control measure
Under the model WHS Regulations, PCBUs have specific duties to manage the risks to health and safety when using, handling, generating and storing hazardous chemicals, including silica.
PCBUs also have a duty to ensure the workplace exposure standard for crystalline silica is not exceeded and to provide health monitoring to workers.
Managing risks and worker exposures to silica can be achieved by selecting and implementing measures using the hierarchy of controls:
- substitution, such as choosing a benchtop product that does not contain crystalline silica
- isolation of the hazard – using principles of safe work design to designate areas for tasks that generate dust and appropriate worker positioning during these tasks, using enclosures and automation to conduct dust generating tasks
- engineering controls that minimise the risk of exposure to generated dust, for example, local exhaust ventilation, water suppression (wet cutting) or using tools with dust collection attachments
- administrative controls, including good housekeeping policies, shift rotations and modifying cutting sequences
- personal protective equipment including appropriate respiratory protective equipment (generally a minimum of a P2 efficiency half face respirator) and work clothing that does not collect dust.
More than one control will normally be required to adequately protect workers, and must be used when processing engineered stone.
Prohibition of engineered stone
Commonwealth, state and territory WHS ministers have agreed to Safe Work Australia’s recommendation to prohibit the use of all engineered stone to protect the health and safety of workers, with the majority of jurisdictions to commence the prohibition from 1 July 2024.
Safe Work Australia will amend the model WHS Regulations to prohibit a PCBU from carrying out work, or directing or allowing a worker to carry out work on or with engineered stone, with the exception of engineered stone installed prior to the prohibition.
Safe Work Australia is developing a national framework to ensure anyone working with engineered stone products installed prior to the prohibition are doing so safely. The national framework will include measures to ensure any work with previously installed engineered stone is controlled, as outlined in the section below. Read the Prohibition of engineered stone webpage to learn more.
Preventing uncontrolled processing of engineered stone
Under the model WHS Regulations, PCBUs must not process, or direct or allow workers to process, engineered stone unless the processing is controlled. Any cutting, grinding, trimming, sanding, abrasive polishing and drilling of engineered stones using power tools or other mechanical plant, must be controlled using one of the following:
- a water suppression (wet cutting) system
- an on-tool dust extraction system, or
- local exhaust ventilation system.
In addition, all workers who process engineered stone must be provided with and wear respiratory protective equipment.
Health monitoring for workers exposed to crystalline silica
Under the model WHS Regulations, PCBUs must provide health monitoring for workers if they are carrying out ongoing work using, handling, generating or otherwise exposed to respirable crystalline silica and there is a significant risk to the worker’s health because of exposure.
The minimum health monitoring requirements for crystalline silica include:
- collection of demographic, medical and occupational history
- records of personal exposure
- standardised respiratory questionnaire
- standardised respiratory function tests, for example, FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC, and
- chest X-Ray full PA view (baseline and high risk workers only).
Further information about the duties for health monitoring can be found in:
- Health monitoring for exposure to hazardous chemicals – Guide for medical practitioners
- Health monitoring – Guide for crystalline silica
Workplace Exposure Standard (WES)
The workplace exposure standard (WES) for RCS is 0.05 mg/m3 (eight-hour time weighted average). A person must not be exposed to RCS above the WES.
PCBUs should keep worker exposure to silica dust as low as reasonably practicable. Air monitoring must be conducted if there is any uncertainty that the WES is being exceeded or to find out if there is a risk to a worker’s health.
Further information about WHS duties related to crystalline silica
You can find further information on what you must do to keep your workers safe from the risks of crystalline silica in our Working with silica and silica containing products guidance material.
For specific information on working with engineered stone products refer to the model Code of Practice: Managing the risks of respirable crystalline silica from engineered stone in the workplace.
Impact analysis and consultation
Safe Work Australia has recently finalised two reports for WHS ministers recommending regulatory changes to manage risks from respirable crystalline silica at work. Both reports were informed by extensive consultation and impact analysis.
In February 2023, Safe Work Australia provided the Decision Regulation Impact Statement: Managing the risks of respirable crystalline silica at work to Commonwealth, state and territory WHS ministers for their consideration. The report outlined options to manage risks from respirable crystalline silica at work and was informed by extensive stakeholder consultation and independent economic impact analysis.
On 28 February 2023, WHS ministers agreed to Safe Work Australia’s recommendations to address workplace exposure to respirable crystalline silica through national awareness and behaviour change initiatives, and further regulation of high-risk crystalline silica processes for all materials across all industries (including engineered stone). Safe Work Australia is currently working to implement these recommendations.
WHS ministers also requested Safe Work Australia undertake further analysis and consultation on the impacts of a prohibition on the use of engineered stone.
Prohibition on the use of engineered stone
In August 2023, Safe Work Australia provided the Decision Regulation Impact Statement: Prohibition on the use of engineered stone to Commonwealth, state and territory WHS ministers for their consideration. The Decision RIS was published on 27 October 2023, and outlined options to prohibit the use of engineered stone. it was informed by stakeholder consultation, independent economic analysis, and an expert review of evidence.
WHS ministers met on 13 December 2023, and agreed to Safe Work Australia’s recommendation to prohibit the use of all engineered stone, irrespective of crystalline silica content, to protect the health and safety of engineered stone workers. Read about the prohibition on the use of engineered stone to learn more.
A series of questions and answers about the impact analysis and consultation are available.
Supporting information
- Decision Regulation Impact Statement -Â Managing the risks of respirable crystalline silica at work
- Consultation Regulation Impact Statement -Â Managing the risks of respirable crystalline silica – Engage consultation
- Prohibition on the use of engineered stone – Engage consultation
- Decision Regulation Impact Statement: Prohibition on the use of engineered stoneÂ
- Prohibition of engineered stone: Literature review and gap analysisÂ
Identifying the hazard of respirable crystalline silica and controlling the risks
Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) particles can penetrate deep into the lungs, causing permanent damage and serious illness, such as silicosis and lung cancer, or death.
RCS is also linked to the development of auto-immune disorders and chronic renal (kidney) disease.
To manage risks of RCS, you must first identify whether RCS is being generated and released into the air at your workplace.
Workers are exposed to RCS whenever it is airborne and they can breathe it in.
RCS is generated in workplace processes such as crushing, cutting, drilling, grinding, sanding, sawing or polishing of natural stone or man-made silica containing products. RCS can be generated and found:
- during manufacturing and construction
- when mining or tunnelling
- in waste or sand-based products, and
- in materials brought to your workplace.
A label or safety data sheet (SDS) may not always be available at a workplace or with a product that contains crystalline silica. If you do not have an information sheet or SDS for a product, you might need to talk to your supplier to find out how much crystalline silica is present.
Common crystalline silica containing materials and products include:
- stone products (natural and engineered)
- composite dental fillings
- manufactured timber
- bricks
- cement
- asphalt
- drywall and some plasterboards
- grout
- mortar
- tiles, and
- even some plastic material.
Activities that release RCS into the air include:
- Using power tools to cut, grind or polish natural and engineered stone countertops
- excavation, earth moving and drilling plant operations
- clay and stone processing machine operations
- paving and surfacing
- mining, quarrying and mineral ore treating processes
- road construction and tunnelling
- construction labouring and demolition
- brick, concrete or stone cutting; especially using dry methods
- abrasive blasting (blasting agent must not contain greater than 1 per cent of crystalline silica)
- foundry casting
- angle grinding, jack hammering and chiselling of concrete or masonry
- hydraulic fracturing of gas and oil wells
- pottery making
- crushing, loading, hauling and dumping of rock, and
- clean-up activities such as sweeping.
Examples of work with potentially harmful exposures to RCS
Fabricating, installing, maintaining and removing crystalline silica containing products
RCS can be generated when cutting, grinding, trimming, removing or blasting silica containing products or from storing or disposing of dusty waste from these processes.
Engineered stone products can contain up to 97 per cent silica. The high amount of silica means that there is a very high risk of workers developing breathing problems and silicosis if they breathe in dust made from these products. Â The vast majority of silicosis cases identified in recent years are in engineered stone workers. These workers get sick sooner, and experience faster disease progression and higher mortality than other workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica or silica dust.
On 13 December 2023, Commonwealth and state and territory work health and safety (WHS) ministers agreed to prohibit the use of all engineered stone to protect the health and safety of workers. For more information see information about the prohibition.
Mining, quarrying, tunnelling and extractive minerals
There are high risks of worker exposure to RCS during mining, tunnelling and mineral extraction.
Construction, building and demolition
RCS can be generated on site from tasks such as concrete cutting, grinding and using power tools on stone.
Controlling risks to health and safety from exposure to RCS
As the duty holder, you will need to implement a combination of different control measures to eliminate or minimise the risks from RCS at your workplace. This includes when working with naturally occurring crystalline silica (for example in mining or tunnelling) or working with products containing crystalline silica.
Safe Work Australia has published a guide to Working with silica and silica containing products, and a model Code of Practice: Managing the risks of respirable crystalline silica from engineered stone in the workplace.Â
You can manage risks of exposure to RCS by selecting and implementing measures using the hierarchy of controls (Figure 1).
Under the model WHS Regulations, PCBUs must not process, or direct or allow workers to process, engineered stone unless the processing is controlled. Any cutting, grinding, trimming, sanding, abrasive polishing and drilling of engineered stones using power tools or other mechanical plants, must be controlled using one of the following:
a water suppression (wet cutting) system
an on-tool dust extraction system, or
a local exhaust ventilation system.
In addition, all workers who process engineered stone must be provided with and wear respiratory protective equipment.
Additional control measures may be required to minimise exposure to RCS so far as is reasonably practicable, such as shift rotation or exclusion zones. If you rely solely on only one or two control measures, there may be a significant risk to your worker’s health and you may be breaching WHS laws.
It has been shown that solely relying on PPE does not adequately protect your workers.
You must be careful to make sure that when you are controlling RCS that you are not introducing other hazards or not fulfilling your WHS duties for other hazards. 
Choosing and implementing control measures for respirable crystalline silica
The control measures that are the most effective for your workplace will depend on your industry, work processes and the risk of exposure.
It is most likely you will need to use a range of control measures to protect your workers from exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS). y
you will also likely need air monitoring and health monitoring programs to confirm your control measures are working and your workers are protected.
Elimination
Elimination means you completely remove the hazard from your workplace.
If it is reasonably practicable, eliminate the risk of RCS exposure at your workplace. You can eliminate RCS at the source by eliminating the product or processes that generate dust. For example:
- eliminating silica-containing products from the workplace, or
- using a product that does not need to be modified. This will remove the risk of workers being exposed to RCS when working with these products.
Substitution
Substitution is where you replace a product or chemical with something that is less hazardous and therefore has a lower risk.
Effective substitution of crystalline silica and silica containing products will depend on your workplace and the work tasks your workers carry out. Again, substitution might not be practicable where crystalline silica is naturally occurring or if it means you can’t make the end product or deliver a service.
Substitution can be an effective way of managing the risk of exposure to RCS. For example, you can:
- use products that do not contain crystalline silica or have low levels of crystalline silica, or
- use a liquid or paste form of a silica product.
Isolate workers and others from RCS
Isolation is where you place barriers or distance between a hazard and workers.
Isolation is an effective way of protecting your workers from exposure to RCS. Physical barriers that remove the worker from contact with RCS are the most effective form of isolation controls.
Isolation controls include:
- isolating high dust generating work processes within an enclosed room with restricted access
- providing physical barriers and exclusion zones between different workers and workstations to prevent dust or water mist from moving into other work areas or towards other workers
- distancing a work process from other workers.
- for example consider where other workers are working when powered hand tools are used
- designating a room or area for other tasks such as changing or eating, away from the work area.
You can also use barriers around automated tasks to shield workers from RCS.
Wherever possible, workers should not cut, grind or polish silica containing products at the installation site. If modifications at the installation site need to be made, this work should be done outdoors in a designated area, wearing appropriate PPE and using engineering controls, including wet methods and dust collection systems.
Engineering controls
Engineering controls use physical methods to reduce the risk of exposure to a hazard. The best engineering controls for your workplace will depend on the tasks your workers carry out.
Engineering controls that may be used to control RCS include:
- automation when cutting, grinding or drilling
- using wet processing methods
- local exhaust ventilation
- drills, routers, saws and other equipment fitted with on-tool dust extraction and a water attachment to suppress dust
- using sacrificial backer-boards or spoil boards
- fitting large machinery such as excavators and bulldozers with positive pressure enclosed cabs, and
- cleaning up dust with a M or H-class industrial vacuum cleaner.
A PCBU must ensure that removal, repair, minor modification or disposal of  engineered stone is controlled using at least one of the following engineering controls:
- a water delivery system that supplies a continuous feed of water over the stone being processed to suppress the generation of dust
- an on-tool dust extraction system
- a local exhaust ventilation system.
All workers who remove, repair, make minor modification or dispose of engineered stone must also be provided with RPE.
When considering and using engineering controls, be aware of other hazards that may be introduced. As many engineering controls are motorised you should be aware of noise and vibration levels at your workplace and issue personal hearing protection as needed.
RCS and other dusts are abrasive and can damage and wear engineering controls. It is important to have a maintenance schedule in place to keep your equipment in good working order. You should regularly inspect your equipment for:
- wear and tear, corrosion or damaged parts
- air leaks in pneumatic tools
- kinks, holes or leaks in water suppression or dust extraction equipment, or
- damage to guards and flaps that contain water spray.
More information about engineering controls can be found in:
- Model Code of Practice: Managing the risks of respirable crystalline silica from engineered stone in the workplace
- Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace.
Administrative controls
Administrative controls should only be used to provide additional protection and must only be considered after implementing substitution, isolation and engineering controls.
Administrative controls rely on worker behaviour and it is very important to have administrative policies and worker training when crystalline silica is identified at your workplace. You also need to supervise your workers to make sure they understand and follow your administrative policies.
Examples of administrative controls for RCS include:
- planning cutting tasks to make sure the minimum number of cuts are made
- written rules and policies for working with silica or cleaning silica waste, for example having a written clean-up procedure and log
- shift rotation policies to make sure workers are not exposed to RCS above the workplace exposure standard and for extended periods of time
- providing a laundry service for dusty PPE and work wear supported by a policy outlining:
- that dusty PPE and work wear are not to be taken home
- designated areas where dusty PPE and clothes must be changed
- when dusty PPE and clothes must be laundered
- policies for storage, cleaning and maintenance of equipment
- signage at the workplace highlighting there is a dust hazard and any required use of PPE, including RPE, and
- restricted area policies so that only staff who are trained to safely carry out a task that generates RCS are allowed access to high risk areas.
Training
When you are working with silica-containing products, you must talk to workers about RCS hazards. Training must be provided:
- as part of induction and refresher training
- when a worker will be carrying out a particular task or activity where RCS is present or could be generated, and
- when significant changes are made at the workplace that change how workers might be exposed.
The information you give to workers during training should give them a good understanding of:
- what RCS is and its health effects
- what controls are in place to protect them
- when they might be at risk of exposure including:
- bad work practices, or
- when controls might not be effective, and
- what to do if they observe unsafe practices at the workplace.
You should encourage your workers to report hazards and health and safety problems immediately. This is important because it allows the risks to be managed before an incident or illness occurs.
Housekeeping
Good housekeeping can eliminate or reduce exposure to RCS, even after work has stopped. Developing written rules and policies for your workplace is a good way to implement housekeeping as an administrative control. For example you could require your workers to:
- wet down dusty work areas and processes
- conduct a cleaning schedule for work areas and a maintenance schedule for engineering controls
- for example regularly cleaning dusty vehicle track or high use areas and keep them wet during the day
- carry out daily cleaning procedures for slurry and settled dust
- for example placing wet slurry inside a sealed container for disposal
- never use compressed air, dry sweeping or general purpose vacuum cleaners to clean surfaces or clothing
- use a low pressure water, wet sweeping or a M or H class rated vacuum cleaner to clean dusty floors, walls, other surfaces and equipment, and
- always follow the vacuum manufacturer’s operator manuals and instructions for changing dust bags and filters.
If your workers are outdoors, you can cover the ground with plastic sheeting and remove remaining dust using the above methods.
Decontamination
Dusty clothing and PPE can expose workers and others to RCS. Examples of how you can minimise exposure to RCS carried on PPE and work clothes include:
- using an industrial H class vacuum cleaner to remove dust from clothes and uniforms
- by positioning these units at the exits of dusty work areas, you can encourage workers to vacuum their clothes before leaving
- you should make sure that workers have access to an area to wash their arms, hands, faces and even their hair.
- providing a laundry service for dusty work clothes and PPE so they are not taken home for washing
- if you use a commercial laundry, dampen the clothes and place them in a sealed, labelled plastic bag, and inform the laundry that the clothes are contaminated with crystalline silica
- requiring workers to change dusty clothing after each shift, or if they have just finished a very dusty task to change at their next break, and
- providing workers with rubber boots and aprons.
Workers’ clothes and uniforms must be cleaned frequently to stop RCS from contaminating break rooms, other parts of the workplace and importantly, to stop workers from taking RCS home.
More information about facilities at your workplace can be found in the model Code of Practice: Managing the work environment and facilities.
Personal protective equipment
You should never rely solely on PPE to protect workers from RCS.
Before using PPE you need to do a risk assessment to see what other controls can and should be used. PPE should only be considered after implementing substitution, isolation, engineering and administrative controls. It should only be used to supplement higher-level control measures or when no other safety measures are available.
There are requirements under the WHS laws when it comes to choosing and using PPE.
As RCS particles are very small, workers should be provided with appropriate RPE. As everyone’s face is a different size and shape, there is no ‘one size fits all’ respirator. Fit testing is essential to make sure the RPE works correctly and is comfortable to wear with other PPE that may be needed for the task.
More information on appropriate RPE and fit testing is available in the model Code of Practice: Managing the risks of respirable crystalline silica from engineered stone in the workplace.
You must make sure the PPE you provide is appropriate and fits the worker who will be wearing it. This will ensure that the PPE is doing its job. Wrong or ill-fitting PPE means that RCS can harm your workers. For example the dust can get into worker’s eyes or into the worker’s breathing zone and into their lungs.
You must make sure PPE is clean, hygienic and in good working order. This is so that you do not introduce other hazards to the worker and that the PPE will work as intended. Information about maintaining and cleaning PPE should be sourced from the manufacturer or supplier.
You must provide ongoing training, information and instructions for your workers on how to use, clean and store the PPE you provide.
Workers must take reasonable care for their own health and safety. They are expected to follow reasonable instructions and cooperate with any workplace policies you have in place to protect them. Workers must use and wear PPE as instructed by you. However, you must also supervise your workers to check they understand their training and are using the PPE correctly.
You can find more information on PPE, including RPE and fit testing, on the Personal protective equipment (PPE) web page and in the Working with silica and silica containing products guide.
Prohibition on the uncontrolled processing of engineered stone
A PCBU must ensure that removal, repair, minor modifications or disposal  of engineered stone is controlled using at least one of the following systems:
- a water delivery system that supplies a continuous feed of water over the stone being processed to suppress the generation of dust
- an on-tool dust extraction system
- a local exhaust ventilation system.
All workers who process engineered stone must also be provided with RPE.
PCBUs should consider if additional control measures are required to eliminate or minimise the risk of RCS and to ensure the workplace exposure standard is not exceeded. A PCBU should conduct air monitoring to check the effectiveness of any control measures implemented to control RCS.
Supporting information
- Working with silica and silica containing products
- Model Code of Practice: Managing the risks of respirable crystalline silica from engineered stone at the workplace
Workplace exposure standard for respirable crystalline silica
The eight-hour time-weighted average workplace exposure standard (WES) for respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is 0.05 mg/m3.
This means that your workers must not be exposed to levels of RCS greater than 0.05 mg/m3  over an eight hour working day, for a five day working week.
What is RCS?
Crystalline silica is found in sand, stone, concrete and mortar. It is also used to make a variety of products, including engineered stone for kitchen and bathroom benchtops, bricks and tiles.
Respirable crystalline silica (RCS)Â is generated in workplace mechanical processes such as crushing, cutting, drilling, grinding, sawing or polishing of natural stone or man-made products that contain silica. RCS can penetrate deep into the lungs and can cause irreversible lung damage.
What is a WES?
A workplace exposure standard (WES) represents the concentration of an airborne hazardous chemical (for example, respirable crystalline silica) within a worker’s breathing zone that should not cause adverse health effects or undue harm.
Compliance with the WES is required under Commonwealth, state and territory WHS laws.
What does the RCS WES mean for you?
The WES for RCS is 0.05 mg/m3 (eight-hour time weighted average). The WES must not be exceeded.
If you are a person conducting a business or undertaking (for example, an employer or small business owner), you may need to implement control measures or make changes to your workplace procedures so that the WES for RCS is not exceeded.
This could include engineering controls (such as a combination of local exhaust ventilation (LEV) or on-tool dust extraction and wet cutting methods), administrative controls and respiratory protective equipment (RPE).
Here are five things you can do to help protect your workers from exposure to RCS:
- Assess the risk of silica dust at your workplace.
- Implement control measures to minimise your workers’ exposure to RCS.
- Arrange for air monitoring if you are unsure how high the airborne RCS levels are at your workplace.
- Talk to your workers and any health and safety representatives (HSRs) about the risks of RCS, the control measures in place at your workplace to manage risks and ensure workers are not exposed to levels above the WES, and any training your workers might need.
- Implement a health monitoring program if there is RCS at your workplace, including workers who generate RCS or those who work near it.
What do my workers need to know about the RCS WES?
Talk with your workers about the adverse health effects that can occur from exposure to RCS, why you might conduct air and health monitoring, and any changes to the control measures you are looking to make at your workplace.
Supporting information
- See the Model Code of Practice: Managing the risks of respirable crystalline silica from engineered stone in the workplace
- See the Guide for working with silica and silica containing products
- Contact your WHS regulator.
Research into a lower workplace exposure standard and short term exposure limit for respirable crystalline silica
Information about research into lowering the workplace exposure standard for respirable crystalline silica (RCS).
Following a health-based review of the WES for RCS, the 8 hour time weighted average workplace exposure standard (WES) for respirable crystalline silica was recommended to be reduced from 0.1 mg/m3 to 0.02 mg/m3 to minimise the risk of silicosis and lung cancer.
However, submissions to the public consultation for the WES review raised concerns that a WES of 0.02 mg/m3Â would be difficult to measure and enforce.
In 2019, WHS ministers agreed to lower the WES for RCS to 0.05 mg/m3 with implementation in all jurisdictions as soon as practicable, pending further review of the measurability concerns.
Safe Work Australia investigated the measurability concerns for an 8 hour time weighted average WES for RCS of 0.02 mg/m3, as well as the option of a short term exposure limit (STEL).
The report into measuring airborne concentrations of RCS found that there was uncertainty in measuring 0.02 mg/m3 with the current sampling and analysis equipment available in Australia. This was due to multiple reasons including sampling error, analytical uncertainty and laboratory reporting and performance. This report recommended that more work be done on measurement standards and laboratory techniques in Australia before the WES for RCS is reduced to 0.02 mg/m3. The full report is available at Measuring respirable crystalline silica.
The report into adding a STEL for RCS did not recommend a STEL if the 8 hour time weighted average WES is 0.05 mg/m3. The report stated that any exposure above 0.05 mg/m3, even for short periods of time, is not recommended and that a STEL would only provide additional protection when used in combination with a WES of 8 hour time weighted average of 0.02 mg/m3. The full report is available at Short Term Exposure Limit for Respirable Crystalline Silica.
Safe Work Australia continues to monitor developments in the measurement of RCS to inform future reviews of the WES.