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Checklist Silica Safety in Construction

SafeWork NSW Silica Checklist

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Chris Sposito
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14 views3 pages

Checklist Silica Safety in Construction

SafeWork NSW Silica Checklist

Uploaded by

Chris Sposito
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SafeWork

Safety checklist

Silica safety in construction


(excluding tunnelling work)
This following checklist can be used by principal contractors and builders to identify
and manage silica dust exposure risks on construction sites.
Silica (crystalline silica) is found in most stone, rock, sand, gravel and clay. The most common form is quartz. Silica can
also be found in bricks, tiles and concrete materials and is 100 times smaller than a grain of sand. You can be breathing
it in without even knowing.
Uncontrolled cutting, grinding or drilling of products or materials containing crystalline silica can generate hazardous levels
of airborne dust. Breathing in silica dust can be harmful and lead to serious, sometimes fatal illnesses.
Principal contractors and builders have a duty to provide and maintain a working environment that is safe and without risks
to health and safety, so far as is reasonably practicable. This includes having safe systems of work and safety equipment
when working with products/materials containing silica.
SafeWork NSW inspectors may issue “stop work” prohibition notices for activities that generate uncontrolled silica dust.
On-the-spot fines of up to $3,600 may also be issued to those placing workers lives at risk by not adequately protecting
them from silica dust exposure when cutting manufactured stone.

Name: Date: Time: 

Site Address: 

Work Activity: 

1. Identifying silica Y N
a) W
 ill you be working with any of the following high-risk materials/products listed below that may
contain silica?
• Bricks
• Wall/floor tiles
• Stone (natural –sandstone, granite)
• Roof tiles/pavers
• Manufactured solid stone products such as engineered (composite) stone
• Asphalt
• Cement, mortar and grout
• Concrete, light weight aerated concrete blocks and fibre cement products
• Pavers and tiles including roof tiles

b) A
 re the following work high-risk activities/processes being conducted that may generate airborne
silica dust?
• Excavation, earth moving or drilling plant operations
• Cutting or grinding wall/floor tiles, roof tiles and pavers
• Paving or surfacing
• Road construction
• Brick, concrete or stone cutting; especially using dry methods
• Grinding, polishing, jack hammering or chiseling of concrete or masonry
• Demolition
• Crushing, loading, hauling or dumping of rock
• Clean-up activities such as sweeping or pressurised air blowing of dust
• Fabrication, installation, maintenance or removal of engineered stone

2. Controlling silica dust exposure using the hierarchy of control Y N


(You may involve a single or a combination of different controls that work together to provide the highest level of protection).

a) C
 an silica dust exposure be eliminated?
For example:
• using products that do not contain silica
• direct fastening instead of drilling and anchoring
• cast channels in concrete instead of drilling and anchoring.
b) C
 an silica dust be isolated?
For example:
• isolate high-dust generation work processes within an enclosed area with restricted access
• provide physical barriers and exclusion zones between different work groups and workstations to prevent
dust from moving into other work areas or towards other workers
• distance the work process from other workers.
2. Controlling silica dust exposure using the hierarchy of control (continued) Y N
(You may involve a single or a combination of different controls that work together to provide the highest level of protection).

c) C
 an silica containing products be substituted?
For example:
• use products that do not contain silica or have less silica in them
• use a silica containing product that does not need to be cut, ground or polished.
d) C
 an the silica dust be managed through engineering controls?
For example:
• use wet method that is likely to generate less dust
• use dust capture systems and/or water suppression systems on tools and equipment to reduce dust
exposure of mobile workers
• use automated methods when cutting, grinding or drilling
• ensure regular housekeeping in work areas to prevent the accumulation of dust
• use H or M class vacuums for safe clean up.
e) D
 o you have administrative controls in place to assist in the management of silica dust exposure?
For example:
• use safe work procedures, minimise the time workers perform higher exposure tasks, alert workers and
visitors to the danger with signage, and provide adequate information, training and supervision.
• ensure dust control measures are always implemented, maintained and reviewed regularly.
f) H
 ave you provided appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to assist in the management of silica
dust exposure?
For example:
• Provide suitable PPE (e.g. P2 mininum rated face mask), including a program to correctly fit, instruct on use
and ensure regular maintenance of respiratory protective equipment (RPE).

3. Air and Health Monitoring Y N


a) D
 oes the activity require air monitoring to determine the level of silica dust exposure to workers?
Refer to Crystalline silica | SafeWork NSW
Note: Workers must not be exposed to respirable crystalline silica above the workplace exposure standard
of 0.05 mg/m3 over an 8 hr day. Air monitoring must be conducted if:
• you are not certain whether workers are exposed to silica dust above the workplace exposure standard; or
• monitoring is necessary to find out if there is a risk to health.

4. Consultation Y N
a) H
 ave workers been consulted on the hazards associated with silica dust, and have the safety control
measures been communicated and understood?
For example:
• Delivered toolbox talks on silica hazards, risks and controls (Refer to SafeWork NSW silica toolbox talk).
• Provided access or copies to Safety Data Sheet (SDS).
• Consulted on safe working procedures.

Any hazards or risks that are currently not being managed so far as reasonably pracaticable should be transposed
to a action plan with responsible person and due dates to ensure rectifications are carried out.

For additional silica safety information


• SafeWork NSW Crystalline silica –technical fact sheet
• SafeWork NSW Crystalline Silica -General fact sheet
• Safe Work Australia –Working with silica and silica containing products guide
• Code of practice –Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace
• SafeWork NSW video –Silica dust controlled cutting of bricks and concrete using on-tool capture
• SafeWork NSW video –Silica dust controlled cutting of bricks and concrete using water
• SafeWork NSW webpage-Health monitoring | SafeWork NSW

For more information on how to work safely with products/materials that contain silica, see the crystalline silica page
at www.safework.nsw.gov.au or call 13 10 50.

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