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 fine dust known as respirable crystalline silica or silica dust.

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

Work and exposure to silica dust

Approximately 587,000 Australian workers were exposed to silica dust in the workplace in 2011. It has been estimated that 5758 of these will develop lung cancer throughout their life as a result of that exposure. The occupations with the most significant exposure include:

  • miners
  • construction workers
  • farmers
  • engineers.
You may be exposed to silica dust if your work involves:
  • breaking, crushing, grinding, or milling material containing silica dust
  • sandblasting or casting
  • paving, surfacing, or cement finishing
  • bricklaying
  • demolition work
  • road construction
  • stone masonry
  • mineral ore-treating processes
  • manufacture of glass, ceramics, brick, concrete, tile, metals, or machinery.

The risks

Inhaling silica dust can cause silicosis, a serious and irreversible lung disease. It can be lethal. Silica damages the lung and causes scar tissue to form. This causes the lung tissue to become thicker. Silica exposure can also cause lung cancer.

It is possible to have silicosis without showing any symptoms at first. The longer workers have been exposed to silica dust, the worse the symptoms will become. As the disease progresses workers may show noticeable symptoms such as:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Severe coughing
  • Body weakness
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How to reduce the risks

The best way to reduce the risk of exposure to silica dust is to eliminate the source of exposure. If that’s not possible, there are other risk controls to use. When choosing risk controls, start by asking the questions in the following steps. The steps are listed in order of effectiveness.

Elimination or substitution

Eliminating the hazard by substituting a safer process or material, where possible, is the most effective control. Some questions to consider:

  • Can a less hazardous material be used (for example, garnet instead of silica in sand-blasting operations)?
  • Can formwork be designed more carefully to reduce the amount of concrete finishing required?
  • Can a process that generates less dust be used (for example, splitting rather than sawing concrete pavers)?
Engineering Controls

Making physical modifications to facilities, equipment, and processes can reduce exposure. Some questions to consider:

  • Can local exhaust ventilation be used on all equipment that generates silica dust?
  • Can water be used to prevent dust from becoming airborne?
  • Can the areas that generate large amounts of dust be enclosed, and have proper ventilation to clean the air?
Administrative Controls

These involve changing work practices and work policies. Providing awareness tools and training also counts as administrative controls. All can limit the risk of silica dust exposure. Some questions to consider:

  • Have you developed a written exposure control plan for silica?
  • Can warning signs be posted in the work area?
  • Can crews be scheduled to work as far away from silica dust-generating processes as possible?
  • Have you provided adequate washing facilities on site?
  • Have you developed safe work procedures for dealing with silica dust?
  • How will worker exposure to silica be monitored?
Personal Protective Equipment

This is the least effective control. When used, there must always be at least one other control in place as well. Some questions to consider:

  • Do workers have the proper respirators, eyewear, and protective clothing?
  • Has personal protective equipment been tested to make sure it is working properly?