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A recent spike in the disease is reported to have occurred in some of the workers involved in stone benchtop manufacture, where dry cutting, grinding or polishing of engineered stone-based products can generate high levels of the dust. As a result, the use of engineered stone benchtops panels and slabs has been banned in Australia, except for maintenance, repairs, minor modifications, removal and disposal of engineered stone that was installed prior to the ban.
Crystalline silica is commonly present as quartz in rocks, sand and soil, so products containing any of these materials are likely to contain crystalline silica. Engineered stone generally contains a higher proportion of crystalline silica – typically over 90% – than other construction materials. To find out if a material contains crystalline silica check the product label and Safety Data Sheet (if available) or ask the manufacturer or supplier of the product.
Occupational exposures can occur where crystalline silica dust is generated and inhaled from materials such as sand, concrete, bricks, tiles, sandstone and other stone.
In Australia, there is a mandatory Workplace Exposure Standard (WES) set at 0.05 mg/m3. This is the airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica above which workers must not be exposed at work.
If you or your workers work with products that contain crystalline silica, it is vital to seek and take note of the safety recommendations of the manufacturer of the product. It is extremely important to be aware of the potential for exposure to airborne dust and what to do to ensure workers are adequately protected.
Exposure to hazardous levels of dust can be reduced considerably by avoiding processes that generate airborne dust during cutting, grinding, crushing, drilling, or sweeping materials that contain crystalline silica.
Where possible, eliminate tasks that generate respirable silica dust. If elimination is not reasonably practicable, one or more of the following three methods will need to be used to control the dust:
Additional control measures include:
Some of these methods are mandatory, so check the website of your local State or Territory workplace health and safety authority to find out the requirements that apply.
Visit your local health and safety authority’s website and search for ‘silica’ for more information.
Can’t find what you need, check out other resources that might be closer to the mark.
No matter the size of the job, a watertight building contract is critical to protect your business, and the current climate presents a great opportunity to go digital with your contracts.