Occupational exposures

Crystalline silica is extremely dangerous when dust is generated from various work activities and this dust is inhaled. Safe Work Australia identifies the following high-risk work practices:

  • using power tools to cut, grind or polish natural and engineered stone countertops
  • excavation, earth moving and drilling plant operations
  • clay and stone processing machine operations
  • paving and surfacing
  • mining, quarrying and mineral ore treating processes
  • road construction and tunnelling
  • construction labouring and demolition
  • brick, concrete or stone cutting; especially using dry methods
  • abrasive blasting (blasting agent must not contain greater than 1 per cent of crystalline silica)
  • foundry casting
  • angle grinding, jack hammering and chiselling of concrete or masonry
  • hydraulic fracturing of gas and oil wells
  • pottery making
  • crushing, loading, hauling and dumping of rock, and
  • clean-up activities such as sweeping.

Products/materials that pose a risk

  • Concrete
  • Brick
  • Ceramics
  • Stone products
  • Glass products
  • Sand
  • Mortar
  • Asphalt

Reference

Safe Work Australia - What is crystalline silica?

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