Respirable Crystalline Silica

 

 

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WSP Occupational Health and Hygiene

  Watch the Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) Symposium recording - held on 19 October 2022 at 11am (AEDT)

Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) is a Category A1 carcinogen and is found in many different materials such as bricks, tiles, aggregates, mortar, concrete, shale, engineered & natural stone products, sandstone, and fibre cement sheeting. Silica-containing materials are commonly used in industries such as construction, manufacturing, stone benchtop fabrication and tunnelling.

Management of Respirable Crystalline Silica Risks should be proactive, with an industry focus in anticipation of increased legislative rigour and statutory guidance

Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) and other duty of care holders have specific legislative duties to manage health and safety risks associated with hazardous chemicals, including RCS, ensuring compliance with workplace exposure standards (WES), which has recently been adjusted from 0.1mg/m³ to 0.05mg/m³. These changes will have a significant impact to how PCBUs control their activities.

Identification

RCS (Quartz) is the most hazardous type of silica, with non-crystalline types of silica (e.g. amorphous silica) being significantly less hazardous to humans. The percentage of silica within the rock or product is relevant to its risk potential as there maybe be around 5% silica with marble, but up to 95% silica within engineered stone. Specific workplace activities need to be reviewed to confirm if they are high, medium or low risk processes for generating silica dust. High-risk activities include, stone fabrication, tunnelling, excavation, drilling, abrasive blasting and jack hammering.

A Certified Occupational Hygienist (COH®) can develop an exposure assessment strategy and assist in implementing regulatory requirements for occupational health and hygiene. Any occupational exposure assessment should start with a workplace characterisation process where workers are organised into similar exposure groups (SEGs) based on work activities.

Control Measures

Control measures need to be in line with the Hierarchy of Controls which, in order of most to least effective, are Elimination, Substitution, Isolation, Engineering, Administrative & Personal Protective Equipment. A combination of these controls may be required to achieve the best outcome for your workers.

Health monitoring for worker exposure to silica is a key control measure for workers carrying out ongoing work with silica.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust?

Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is very fine silica dust which is capable of entering the deepest portion of the lungs. Less than 3 microns in diameter.

How do you monitor silica exposure?

Silica exposure is monitored via an air sample which is collected onto a filter, which is either worn by the worker, or collected near where they complete their duties. A sampling pump and filter is connected to a worker in their breathing zone, and it collects the fine dust they are exposed to over a day, which is analysed by weight, and x-ray diffraction which can determine how much RCS is in the sample.

How is RCS hazardous and how does it affect the body?

RCS can cause significant lung inflammation and scarring, fibroid tissue, asthma, chronic pulmonary disease, heart disease, cancer and a range of other illnesses. It can also affect the body acutely, such as inflamed eyes and mucus membranes, and can be carried on clothes away from the worksite and expose family members or other people.

What are the crystalline silica exposure limits in Australia?

The crystalline silica exposure limit in Australia is .05 micrograms per cubic metre of air over an eight hour period (Safe Work Australia)