As the first of its kind in Australia, the Code will encompass all construction work and the manufacturing of construction materials including bricks, blocks, tiles, mortar and concrete. By detailing how duty holders can adhere with legislation, the code will help minimise the dangers of silica dust in construction and reduce future cases of silicosis and other such diseases.
Where is Crystalline Silica Found and Why is it Harmful?
Crystalline silica is a common mineral in construction found in building materials such as concrete, bricks, engineered stone, natural stone and more. Cutting, sawing, drilling, polishing, grinding and other similar actions can generate respirable crystalline silica (RCS), a very small dust particle that stays in the air much longer than other particles and can be inhaled deeply into the lungs. RCS cannot ordinarily be seen by the naked eye, making it very dangerous when not actively monitored. Inhaling an excessive amount of RCS can lead to silicosis, an incurable lung disease that generally develops after years of exposure but can develop much faster when individuals are exposed to high concentrations. Silicosis can cause shortness of breath, a severe cough and weakness, leading to disability and potentially even death.
Silica dust exposure can potentially lead to the following diseases:
Acute, accelerated, or chronic silicosis
Chronic bronchitis
Emphysema
Lung cancer
Renal cancer
Kidney damage
Scleroderma
Progressive massive fibrosis
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
What are the Current Regulations and Workplace Exposure Standard for Crystalline Silica?
Regardless of the industry, the workplace exposure standard for respirable crystalline silica is 0.05 mg/m3 (eight-hour time weighted average), and this must not be exceeded under any circumstance. Currently, Safe Work Australia regulates the handling, generating and storage of hazardous chemicals under the Model WHS Regulations, which includes silica. The use of materials with 1 percent or more crystalline silica for abrasive blasting or in uncontrolled dry cutting or processing is prohibited. Additionally, health monitoring is made compulsory for workers with a significant risk to their health due to exposure. More detailed information on health monitoring can be found in the Safe Work Australia health monitoring for crystalline silica guide.
Specific regulations can vary slightly from state to state, however in general, businesses are always required to minimise threats to worker health as much as is reasonably practicable. Control measures must be implemented to minimise risks, and air monitoring is required when it is uncertain if the workplace exposure standard has been exceeded or if there is a need to determine if there is a risk to health. To ensure businesses meet all their duties in relation to silica dust management, they are required to either comply with an approved code of practice or meet an equivalent or higher standard of worker health and safety as outlined under section 26A of the WHS Act. The new Code of Practice will hence help businesses to comply with regulations, giving them a clear guide on how they should handle silica dust in the workplace.
What Does the New Crystalline Silica Dust Code of Practice Outline?
The upcoming silica dust Code of Practice is a practical guide designed to help business owners meet their legislative obligations. The Code applies to work where there are materials containing more than one percent crystalline silica and tasks that generate RCS or cause it to become airborne. Providing guidance for all operations related to silica dust, the Code of Practice is broken down into the following:
Code of Practice – what to do
Duties in construction and manufacturing
Consultation
Identifying RCS hazards
Choosing the right controls
Guidance for using controls
Cleaning up and maintenance
Air monitoring
Health monitoring
Reviewing the controls
Information and training
Other hazards in construction and manufacturing
Will Dust Monitoring be Compulsory Under the New Code of Practice?
Dust monitoring is enforced when either the business is not certain that the workplace exposure standard has been exceeded based on reasonable grounds, or when a business needs to determine whether there is a risk to worker health. In this instance, reasonable grounds are considered to be when control measures are correctly implemented for tasks that can generate RCS as listed in Appendix 4 of the Code, including any required respiratory protective equipment such as fit tested respirators. Alternatively, businesses can provide an air monitoring report with statistically valid exposure data to prove that their chosen control measures reduce RCS exposure below the workplace exposure standard. Dust monitoring is hence not always a requirement and can be omitted when valid control measures are used properly.
When a business chooses to use different control measures than those recommended in the Code and does not have any statistically valid exposure data to demonstrate that RCS is below the workplace exposure standard, silica dust monitoring is required. When conducting silica dust monitoring, businesses must first establish similar exposure groups (SEGs) and design a personal exposure sampling plan. They are then required to undertake baseline personal exposure monitoring using an instrument capable of sampling for silica such as the Nanozen DustCount 9000 Real-Time Personal Dust Monitor or the SKC AirCheck Essential Air Sampling Pump to determine if the work exposure standard has been exceeded. Periodic sampling should then be continued to ensure that RCS exposure levels are kept below this level.
Does the New Code Specify Respiratory Protective Equipment Requirements?
Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) is required when higher order control measures are not sufficient to reduce RCS levels below the workplace exposure standard. RPE used must be suitable for the nature of the work being conducted, a suitable size and fit for the wearer, and maintained, repaired, or replaced as necessary so that it provides sufficient and reliable protection for workers. Appendix 4 of the Code details the recommended controls for tasks involving RCS including when RPE may be necessary.
All tight-fitting RPE are required to be fit-tested to ensure the respirator provides the highest level of protection for each individual, therefore reducing RCS exposure. These can be easily conducted using instruments such as the QuantiFit2 Respirator Fit Tester or PortaCount Respirator Fit Testers. Fit testing is required for all types of half and full face RPE. Loose-fitting RPE does not need to be fit-tested.
