Silica dust (crystalline silica) is found in some stone, rock, sand, gravel and clay. The most common form is quartz. Silica dust can also be found in the following products:

• Bricks;
• Tiles;
• Concrete;
• Some plastic material.

When these materials are worked on, silica is released as a fine dust known as respirable crystalline silica or silica dust. Hazardous exposure to silica dust exceeding the workplace exposure standard (WES) can lead to illnesses such as silicosis or lung cancer.

The current exposure standard for crystalline silica is 0.1mg/m³ however it is likely over the next three years that standard is likely to reduce to 0.05mg/m³.

There are some occupations who are at a higher risk of hazardous silica dust exposure including stonemasonry workers and those who work with engineered stone, such as kitchen installation companies.

Today, all States and Territories in Australia have work health and safety laws that explain duty of care for employers and workers' responsibilities.

Importantly, it should be assumed that a hazardous exposure to silica will occur when cutting or manipulating a high silica containing content product, unless it can objectively be demonstrated that the employees will not face hazardous exposure levels.

The Victorian Government has introduced temporary regulations to deal with the rise of ‘aggressive silicosis’ which has emerged due to the increased prevalence of engineered stone.

These state that employers must control the risks of employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust. When determining what control measure to use, employers must apply the hierarchy of control. Firstly, you should determine if the risk of exposure to crystalline silica dust can be eliminated. Where this is not possible, the exposure must be reduced as far as is reasonably practicable, using one or more of these controls:

• Substitution (for example substituting high silica content engineered stone products with others that have a lower silica content);
• Isolation;
• Engineering controls.

If the risk of exposure still remains, administrative controls must be used to reduce the risk so far as is reasonably practicable. If a risk remains, personal protective equipment must be used.

Study the guides and links in the resources section to ensure that you and your staff are protected.