The national workspace exposure standard for respirable crystalline silica has been halved from an eight hour time-weighted average airborne concentration of 0.1 milligrams per cubic metre (mg/m3) to 0.05 mg/m3.
Queensland employers will need to ensure they are prepared for the new updated standard from 1 July 2020. Those that do not meet the new standards may be open to significant risk so it is now as important than ever to manage your worker exposure to dust and silica.
What does this involve?
- using higher order controls (including elimination, engineering, isolation and substitution)
- air monitoring
- health monitoring
- training for workers
- appropriate respiratory protective equipment
Queensland employers will need to ensure they are prepared for the new updated standard from 1 July 2020. Those that do not meet the new standards may be open to significant risk so it is now as important than ever to manage your worker exposure to dust and silica.
Stop dust at its source
- Using higher order controls (including elimination, engineering, isolation and substitution).
- Use products with a lower silica content.
- Use enclosed equipment.
- Use water suppression methods in combination with spray/mist guards.
- Use on-tool dust extraction.
- Portable dust extractors should be H class rated. Note: M class portable dust extractors can be used in the construction industry.
- Use tools that produce less dust (e.g. use a fibre cement sheet shear instead of a circular saw).
Remove dust from the air
- Use a dust capture hood/local exhaust ventilation.
- Carry out dailystart-up checks to ensure machine and spray/mist guards and local exhaust ventilation are fitted correctly and working effectively.
Stop dust from spreading
- Enclose a dusty process in a booth or enclosure e.g. abrasive blasting cabinet or glove box.
- Clean up regularly, but at least once a day, with a H Class vacuum, wet methods or low-pressure water. Note: M class vacuum cleaners can be used in the construction industry.
- Dispose of wet dust slurry before it dries out in a way that minimises the risk of dust being redistributed over the workplace (e.g. covered, kept wet, bagged).
