WorkSafe Silica Compliance Project

Silica, or silicon dioxide, is a common, naturally occurring mineral. In its quartz form, crystalline silica is a major component of many types of sand. It is used in the manufacture of stone benchtops, concrete and some bricks and rocks (e.g. granite, slate, sandstone).

What are the hazards associated with silica?

When workers cut, crush, drill, polish, saw or grind products that contain silica, dust particles (not necessarily visible to the eye) are generated that are small enough to lodge deep in the lungs. These very small dust particles are referred to as respirable crystalline silica (RCS). Hazards relating to RCS can be found in a variety of industries such as construction and stone masonry, and in foundries.

When exposed to RCS, workers are at risk of adverse health effects including:

• silicosis – a serious and irreversible lung disease • an increased risk of: – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – kidney disease – lung cancer.

Conditions such as lung cancer and certain forms of silicosis can be fatal. Workplaces with risks of RCS exposure have a duty to implement practical controls to protect the health and safety of their workers.

Silica compliance project

To ensure high-risk silica workplaces comply with occupational safety and health laws, WorkSafe undertook a compliance project between 2018 and 2021. While the project focused on engineered stone benchtop fabrication and installation work, it also included occupational hygiene monitoring during wall chasing activities in the construction industry and sample preparation processes in assay laboratories.

Throughout the project, 150 workplace inspections took place, with approximately 1,000 enforcement notices issued. These notices were issued mainly for:

• non-compliance relating to establishing safe systems of work to control RCS hazards • a lack of health surveillance being provided to workers whose health was at risk.

Air monitoring was conducted at 38 workplaces by the WorkSafe occupational hygienists in both metropolitan and regional locations. The results showed that 75% of workplaces were recording levels above the action level – a term used to refer to half the workplace exposure standard, and the level at which workplace control measures require review.

As a result of enforcement action, 365 workers participated in health surveillance during the project. Of these workers, 24 cases of silicosis were identified.

WorkSafe Silica Recall Project

In addition to the workplace inspections, WorkSafe offered a health surveillance opportunity termed the ‘WorkSafe Silica Recall Project’. High risk workers who had five or more years of industry experience were offered a low dose CT scan after having a clear chest x-ray as part of their health surveillance screening.

Of 90% participating workers: 8 were found to have silicosis based on the low dose CT scan imagery. These changes were not visible on the chest x-ray; Another 40% of this high risk group had other findings identified on the low dose CT scans, which may be caused by exposure to silica or other respiratory issues. These workers were referred for further specialist medical review

In January 2021, the outcomes of the WorkSafe Silica Recall Project and feedback from radiologists and specialists led to the amendment of the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 to require a low dose high resolution CT scan rather than a chest x-ray for silica health surveillance screening.

More information on the WorkSafe silica compliance project is available on the Department’s website.

Health surveillance for workers

WorkSafe also supported the WA Silicosis Screening Program (WASSP) with the Institute for Respiratory Health, providing free health surveillance to eligible workers. Regular health surveillance can help identify early changes in the lungs of workers at risk. This way, further exposures can be prevented to ensure that the health of workers is protected.

Health surveillance in WA is undertaken by Appointed Medical Practitioners (AMPs) who have responsibilities under the OSH Regulations. The AMP overseeing health surveillance screening is authorised to make decisions on the appropriate tests required for the worker based on the risk profile (length of worker exposure, type of controls used etc.). Guidance for AMPs conducting health surveillance for silica is available on the Department’s website.