With rising awareness of the dangers posed by respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure, Australian regulators have introduced new legislation to manage silica hazards in the workplace. The regulations mandate stricter controls and processes for identifying and managing silica risks, aiming to reduce the risk of diseases like silicosis, which can result from prolonged exposure to crystalline silica.
This legislation reinforces the importance of using existing risk management frameworks to manage silica hazards without overhauling established safety systems.
What the New Silica Legislation Means
The new respirable crystalline silica (RCS) legislation across Australia sets requirements for industries where silica is present, such as construction, mining, manufacturing, and stonemasonry. The regulations mandate that businesses identify silica hazards, implement effective controls, and ensure regular monitoring to protect workers’ health. Each state has set timelines for compliance, which generally require immediate action on high-risk tasks, with further deadlines for full integration of controls:
New South Wales: SafeWork NSW has introduced regulations for managing silica dust and mandates compliance with exposure standards as outlined in their silica guidelines.
Victoria: WorkSafe Victoria’s silica regulations include specific control requirements and exposure monitoring for tasks involving engineered stone, with enforcement underway since 2022.
Queensland: Workplace Health and Safety Queensland requires strict adherence to the national exposure standards and mandates dust control and monitoring measures.
These regulations reflect a nationwide commitment to ensure that workplaces with silica hazards implement proactive, consistent measures to safeguard workers from harm.
New South Wales (NSW) Specific Requirements
The New South Wales (NSW) Work Health and Safety Amendment (Crystalline Silica Substances) Regulation 2024 came into effect on 1 September 2024. This regulation introduces stricter controls for processing materials containing crystalline silica, aiming to enhance worker protection from silica dust exposure.
Key requirements under this regulation include:
Instruction and Training: Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBUs) must provide workers with information and training on the health risks associated with respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and the necessary control measures.
Silica Risk Control Plan: PCBUs are required to develop a silica risk control plan based on a thorough risk assessment.
Air Monitoring: Regular air monitoring must be conducted, and results indicating airborne concentrations exceeding workplace exposure standards must be reported to the WHS regulator.
Health Monitoring: Health monitoring must be provided for workers exposed to crystalline silica.
Sources of Silica Hazards
Silica, or respirable crystalline silica, is commonly found in materials like stone, concrete, bricks, and tiles. Work activities that create fine dust—such as cutting, grinding, polishing, or drilling—can release tiny, breathable particles of silica that pose serious health risks when inhaled. Key industries at risk include construction, stonemasonry, tunnelling, and any manufacturing processes that work with silica-containing materials. The risks associated with silica are especially pronounced in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces, where dust can accumulate, creating an even greater hazard for workers.
Integrating Silica Hazard Management into Your Risk Framework
When it comes to managing silica hazards, it’s essential to leverage existing risk and control frameworks. Your business likely already has processes for identifying hazards, selecting appropriate controls, and verifying the effectiveness of these measures. Silica management can—and should—be integrated into these existing frameworks, allowing for consistent, reliable control over this particular risk.
Identifying Silica Hazards: Begin with a thorough assessment of tasks and materials in your workplace that may involve silica exposure. Understanding where silica is present and the activities that generate dust is crucial for effective control.
Selecting and Implementing Controls: Apply the hierarchy of control to manage silica risks. For high-risk tasks, elimination and substitution are preferred. Where this isn’t possible, engineering controls, such as water suppression systems or local exhaust ventilation, should be employed. Personal protective equipment (PPE) like respirators is essential but should be considered a last line of defence.
Establishing Assurance and Governance: As with other risks, verify the effectiveness of silica controls through routine monitoring and maintenance. Implement air quality testing and conduct regular health checks for workers to ensure that controls are protecting them effectively. Engage workers in feedback loops to identify any practical issues with controls in place.
Utilising Existing Risk Systems: Silica hazards don’t require a brand-new risk management approach—existing processes for hazard identification, control selection, and governance are directly applicable. This consistency allows businesses to manage silica risks effectively within their established risk frameworks.
By embedding silica hazard management into your overall risk framework, you create a holistic approach that strengthens worker safety while ensuring compliance with the new regulations.
Additional Resources by State
For specific guidance on silica legislation in your state, refer to:
New South Wales (NSW): SafeWork NSW – Silica Safety
Victoria: WorkSafe Victoria – Silica and Engineered Stone
Queensland: Workplace Health and Safety Queensland – Silica Dust
Western Australia (WA): WorkSafe WA – Silica Information
South Australia (SA): SafeWork SA – Silica
Tasmania: WorkSafe Tasmania – Silica Dust
Australian Capital Territory (ACT): WorkSafe ACT – Silica and Dust Control
Northern Territory (NT): NT WorkSafe – Crystalline Silica
Compliance Training
Orana Skills Centre offer online courses in Respirable Crystalline Silica Awareness. These online courses are approved under the state regulator training requirements and will take approximately 1 hour to complete. Learners will receive a certificate at the completion of the course.
If you are a business and have several workers requiring this course, please contact Orana Skills Centre, stating which course you would like to enrol your workers in. Your workers will be individually enrolled, and you will be invoiced. You will have access to each learner's progress and certificate of completion.
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