If you work with or around silica dust, it’s important that you know the dangers of this substance. Silica dust is a health hazard that Queensland law regulates directly: the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld) has a chapter on crystalline silica, including a prohibition on work with engineered stone. In this guide we explain the dangers of silica dust, what the law says, and what you can do to protect yourself from its harmful effects.
What is silica dust?
Silica dust is a fine powder that is created when cutting, grinding, or drilling materials that contain silica. Silica is a natural mineral found in the earth’s crust. When these materials are disturbed, the resulting dust can be breathed in by workers and cause serious health problems.
The most dangerous part is the smallest. Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is the fine fraction of crystalline silica dust that is small enough to be breathed deep into the lungs. It is often invisible, so a dusty-looking job is not the only warning sign.
Which worksites contain silica dust?
Silica dust is created when working with materials like concrete, brick, mortar, and sand. It’s also present in many industrial jobs, such as mining, quarrying, tunnelling, and demolition. If you work in one of these industries or with these materials, you’re at risk of exposure to silica dust.
Dangers of silica dust
The small particles of silica dust can enter the lungs and cause inflammation. This can lead to scarring of the lungs and difficulty breathing. Over time, silica dust can cause lung cancer, silicosis, and other respiratory illnesses. In severe cases, silica dust exposure can be fatal.
What Queensland law says about silica dust
Chapter 8A of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld) (the WHS Regulation), sections 529A to 529J, deals with crystalline silica. The key ideas are below. Queensland numbers a Regulation’s provisions as sections.
What the Regulation covers
A “crystalline silica substance” is any material that contains at least 1% crystalline silica by weight (section 529A). “Processing” it includes using a power tool or mechanical plant for abrasive polishing, crushing, cutting, drilling, grinding, sanding or trimming, as well as quarrying, mechanical screening and tunnelling. So cutting, grinding or drilling concrete, brick or masonry with power tools is typically processing, as long as the material contains at least 1% crystalline silica.
Processing must be “controlled” (sections 529B and 529C)
A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must not carry out, or direct or allow a worker to carry out, the processing of a crystalline silica substance unless it is controlled. Under section 529B, processing is controlled if:
- control measures are used, so far as is reasonably practicable, to eliminate or minimise the risks; and
- at least one of these is used: isolating the person from dust exposure, a fully enclosed operator cabin with high efficiency air filtration, an effective wet dust suppression method, an effective on-tool extraction system, or an effective local exhaust ventilation system; and
- anyone still at risk of exposure to respirable crystalline silica is provided with respiratory protective equipment (RPE) and wears it while the processing is carried out.
If none of those controls is reasonably practicable, the processing is controlled only if everyone at risk is provided with RPE and wears it. For this purpose, RPE must be designed to prevent the wearer inhaling airborne contaminants and comply with two Australian Standards named in the Regulation (AS/NZS 1716:2012 and AS/NZS 1715:2009).
High risk silica processing (sections 529CA to 529CE)
- Assess it first. Before processing starts, the PCBU must assess whether it is reasonably likely to risk anyone’s health, and record the assessment in writing. The assessment cannot rely only on the control measures, and cannot take PPE or administrative controls into account (section 529CA). If the PCBU cannot decide, the processing is taken to be high risk.
- Silica risk control plan. For high risk processing, a silica risk control plan must be prepared before it starts. The plan must identify the high risk processing, include the assessment, and state the controls and how they will be implemented, monitored and reviewed. The work must be done in accordance with the plan, and the plan must be available to all workers (sections 529CB and 529CC). If the processing is also high risk construction work and a safe work method statement (SWMS) covering the same things is prepared first, a separate plan is not needed (section 529CB(3)).
- Training. Workers who may be involved in, or at risk from, high risk processing must receive crystalline silica training, which is a VET accredited course or training approved by the regulator. The business must keep a record for 5 years after the worker stops working for it (section 529CD).
- Air monitoring. A PCBU must make sure airborne exposure standards are not exceeded and carry out air monitoring when it is not certain on reasonable grounds whether a standard is exceeded, or when monitoring is necessary to determine the risk to health (sections 49 and 50). For high risk processing, results showing the exposure standard for crystalline silica has been exceeded must be given to the regulator within 14 days (section 529CE).
- Health monitoring. Crystalline silica is listed in schedule 14 of the WHS Regulation. Where a worker is carrying out ongoing work using, handling, generating or storing a hazardous chemical listed in that schedule and there is a significant risk to their health from exposure to it, the PCBU must provide health monitoring (section 368). For crystalline silica that includes a standardised respiratory questionnaire, a respiratory function test and a chest X-ray.
Engineered stone is prohibited
Section 529D of the WHS Regulation says a PCBU must not carry out, or direct or allow a worker to carry out, work that involves manufacturing, supplying, processing or installing engineered stone benchtops, panels or slabs. The maximum penalty is 60 penalty units.
Engineered stone, for this purpose, is an artificial crystalline silica substance made by combining natural stone material with other constituents such as water, resins and pigments, which then hardens. The definition in section 529A excludes concrete and cement products, bricks and pavers, ceramic wall and floor tiles, grout, mortar and render, plasterboard, porcelain products, sintered stone and roof tiles. Those materials are not covered by the prohibition, but cutting or grinding them is still processing a crystalline silica substance if they contain at least 1% crystalline silica, so the controls above apply.
There are limited exceptions for genuine research and analysis, and for sampling and identifying engineered stone (sections 529E and 529F). Processing to remove, repair or make minor modifications to installed engineered stone, or to dispose of it, is also allowed if the work is controlled, but the PCBU must give the regulator a written notice before it starts (sections 529F and 529G), tell the regulator about changes and notify it every 12 months while the work continues (sections 529H and 529I), and keep a copy of each notice for 5 years (section 529J). The Regulation also sets out an exemption process for engineered stone (Chapter 11, Part 11.2, Division 3A, referred to in the note to section 529D).
How to avoid making silica dust
- Wet cutting or grinding concrete, stone, or masonry can significantly reduce the amount of dust created. An effective wet dust suppression method is one of the controls listed in section 529B.
- Use on-tool extraction or local exhaust ventilation to capture silica dust at the source. This is especially important when using power tools.
- Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to clean up silica dust.
- Avoid using dry sweeping methods as this will only disperse the dust into the air.
- Where you can, choose a method that makes less dust in the first place, and keep other workers away from the area.
How to prevent inhalation of silica dust
- Wear respiratory protective equipment when working with or around silica dust. Choose a respirator that complies with the standards named in section 529B and fit it properly. A cheap paper dust mask will not usually meet those standards, so check the packaging.
- Wash your hands and face after exposure to silica dust.
- Avoid eating or drinking in areas where silica dust is present.
Symptoms of silica dust exposure include
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing
- Difficulty breathing
Silica-related disease can take years to show up, so do not wait for symptoms. If you think you may have been exposed to silica dust, it’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible and tell them about your work. Silica exposure can lead to serious health problems, so don’t delay in seeking medical attention.
Working in an industry where exposure to silica dust is a risk can be dangerous to your health so it’s important to be aware of the risks and take steps to protect yourself.
Paperwork for silica work
Our Silica Dust SWMS Template is a Word document for silica-generating work such as cutting, grinding and drilling concrete and masonry. If your work is high risk construction work, a SWMS is required before it starts (section 299). Check that the SWMS you use covers everything section 529CB(2) asks of a silica risk control plan. For a business-wide approach, there is also a Working in Dusty Environments Policy Template. For related reading, see our guides on dust on construction sites and hazardous chemical management.
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Silica requirements for the construction industry
Queensland’s Managing respirable crystalline silica dust exposure in construction and manufacturing of construction elements Code of Practice 2022, an approved code of practice under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, sets out what a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) is expected to do when respiratory protective equipment (RPE) is needed as a control measure for respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust. The code advises that a worker is at significant risk, and health monitoring is needed, when the worker has needed to wear RPE as the code requires on 30 days or more in a year, or the PCBU is reasonably certain they will need to on more than 30 days in the next twelve months. Keeping a record of the days each worker needs RPE for silica-generating tasks is a practical way to track that trigger. Workplace Health and Safety Queensland says this code is under review because of the Regulation’s changes for crystalline silica substances, and points PCBUs to its guidance on working with crystalline silica substances, so check its code page for the current position. The code is not law in itself, but a PCBU must comply with an approved code or manage the risk in a way that gives an equivalent or higher standard of health and safety (section 26A of the WHS Act), and the specific legal duties are the ones in Chapter 8A of the WHS Regulation, summarised above.
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This guide is general information, not legal advice. Check the current law or talk to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland for your situation.
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