Respirable crystalline silica dust must be controlled before cutting, drilling, grinding or otherwise disturbing silica-containing construction materials. The practical priorities are to identify the material and task, eliminate or minimise dust generation, select effective engineering controls, protect nearby people and document how the work will be carried out safely.
The Queensland Code discussed here applies to construction work and manufacturing of construction elements involving materials with 1 per cent or more crystalline silica where the task generates RCS or makes it airborne. Local requirements vary across Australia, so check current regulator material for your jurisdiction and the conditions of the actual job.
Why silica dust is dangerous
Crystalline silica is found in common materials such as concrete, cement, bricks, tiles, blocks, mortar, sandstone and fibre cement products. High-energy work can release respirable crystalline silica, or RCS, during:
- cutting, sawing and drilling
- grinding, polishing and scabbling
- crushing or high-energy earthmoving
- dry sweeping or using compressed air on settled dust
- cleaning dried slurry or dusty equipment
RCS particles are too small to see and can remain airborne long after a task finishes. Breathing the dust can cause serious lung disease, including silicosis and lung cancer. Workers doing the task are not the only people at risk. Supervisors, cleaners, labourers, maintenance workers and nearby trades may receive secondary exposure.
What to sort out before work starts
Start by confirming what materials will be disturbed and their silica content. Review current safety data sheets, technical information, supplier instructions and any relevant test results. If reliable information cannot be obtained, the Queensland Code says the material should be treated as containing at least 1 per cent crystalline silica.
Walk through the actual task with the people doing the work. Confirm:
- where cutting or processing will happen
- whether the work can be eliminated, redesigned or completed off site
- which tools, water systems or dust extraction equipment are suitable
- how workers and nearby trades will be isolated from the work area
- what respiratory protective equipment is required and whether fit testing is current
- how slurry, waste, clothing and equipment will be cleaned
- who will inspect, maintain and review the controls
Uncontrolled dry cutting or processing of materials containing at least 1 per cent crystalline silica must not be allowed under the Queensland Code.
What good silica controls usually cover
Effective control starts higher in the hierarchy. Consider eliminating the cutting task, ordering materials to size, substituting a lower-silica product or isolating the process. Engineering controls commonly include integrated water suppression or properly selected on-tool local exhaust ventilation.
Administrative measures support these controls through exclusion zones, sequencing, supervision, training, equipment inspections and safe cleaning methods. Respiratory protection may also be required, but it must suit the task, exposure and wearer. It should be correctly selected, fit tested, stored and maintained.
Housekeeping matters. Do not let slurry dry, use compressed air to clean dusty surfaces or rely on dry sweeping. Remove waste in a way that prevents dust becoming airborne, such as keeping it wet or placing it in covered or sealed containers.
SWMS and site-specific documents
In Queensland, construction work involving a risk of RCS exposure is identified by the Code as high risk construction work. A compliant safe work method statement is therefore commonly required before that work begins. It should describe the specific silica task, hazards, controls, implementation responsibilities and the process for monitoring and reviewing the work.
For manufacturing activities, an RCS dust control plan is a practical way to record silica-containing products, tasks, control methods, respiratory protection, work practices and how controls are integrated into daily operations.
Other useful records may include consultation notes, training records, equipment inspection and maintenance records, fit-testing records, safety data sheets, air monitoring results, health monitoring records and evidence that controls were reviewed. Air monitoring and health monitoring may be required in particular circumstances, including uncertainty about exposure or an ongoing significant health risk.
Warning signs that controls need attention
Stop and review the job if you see:
- visible dust escaping from a tool or enclosure
- dust settling on floors, clothing, scaffolds or nearby equipment
- water flow or dust extraction stopping during processing
- dry slurry, overflowing waste or dusty vehicle cabins
- workers removing RPE inside a contaminated area
- nearby trades entering without understanding the controls
- a change in material, tool, location, duration or work method
Regular visible dust after a task is a clear sign that the controls may not be working effectively.
How Blue Safe can help
Blue Safe provides compliant WHS documents tailored to the client's activities, applicable Australian WHS/OHS requirements, jurisdiction and industry. This can include silica-related SWMS, RCS dust control plans, procedures, risk documents, training records and supporting site forms.
Blue Safe guarantees the document compliance of the WHS documents it provides, including eligible customer documents after Blue Safe has reviewed and upgraded them. Customers actively put the compliant documents into practice through controls, consultation, training, actions, records and evidence.
Official sources
- Queensland Managing respirable crystalline silica dust exposure Code of Practice 2022
- Queensland Work Health and Safety Act 2011
- Queensland Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011
Information current: 14 August 2026.