Training in crystalline silica

Learn about the approved training courses available to workers.

A Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) must provide approved training in crystalline silica to a worker:

  • involved in processing of a crystalline silica substance (CSS) that is high risk, or
  • is at risk of exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) because of that processing.

To be considered approved in NSW, training must meet the criteria below. The training can be developed in-house or delivered by a third-party.

You must also provide all workers who may be exposed to RCS at the workplace with information and instruction on how to work safely with silica products in the workplace.

Approved training course criteria

  1. Identify the health risks associated with exposure to RCS, including signs and symptoms of silicosis.
  2. How to determine if a material contains crystalline silica, including:
    1. an explanation of the forms of crystalline silica listed in 529A of the WHS Regulation
    2. the common materials and products known to contain crystalline.
  3. How to interpret safety data sheets (SDS) and manufacturer’s information, including the meaning of ‘processing’ in relation to CSS as defined by section 529A of the WHS Regulation.
  4. How RCS is generated during processing, how workers can be exposed and the relevant workplace exposure standards for the forms of RCS.
  5. What is ‘controlled’ processing of CSS under section 529B of the WHS Regulation.
  6. The requirements for the controls listed in subsection 529B(1)(b) of the WHS Regulation, how they work and how to use them.
  7. The types of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) specified by 'AS/NZS 1715:2009 Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment', deemed as being suitable to protect against exposure to RCS.
  8. How to determine if RPE is compliant with the required standard 'AS/NZS 1716:2012 Respiratory protective devices'.
  9. Fit-checking, fit-testing and facial-hair requirements for tight-fitting RPE in compliance with 'AS/NZS 1715:2009 Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment'.
  10. General housekeeping and cleaning methods to eliminate or minimise risk of exposure to RCS for CSS processes.
  11. WHS Regulation requirements for:
    1. silica risk control plans (or safe work method statements (SWMS) for construction work) under section 529CB of the WHS Regulation when undertaking processing which is high risk.
    2. compliance with a silica risk control plan under section 529CC of the WHS Regulation or, for SWMS, section 300 of the WHS Regulation.
    3. compliance with section 529CE including:
      1. determining when air monitoring may be required under section 50 of the WHS Regulation.
      2. providing the regulator with results of any air monitoring undertaken which shows the airborne concentration of RCS has exceeded the workplace exposure standard for crystalline silica.
      3. determining when health monitoring may be required under part 7.1 division 6 of the WHS Regulation.

Approved training courses in NSW

Existing courses that are also recognised as approved training in NSW:

Workers with evidence of successfully completing one of these courses before 1 September 2024 do not have to do it again.

Record of training

You must keep a record of the training provided to workers:

  • while they are carrying out the high- risk processing, and
  • for 5 years after the day they stop working for your business.

You can document this record of training in your silica risk control plan.

Workers that complete any of these approved training courses get a:

  • TAFE NSW Certificate of Completion, or
  • Registered Training Organisation Statement of Attainment that covers either 10830NAT, CPCSIL3001 or CPCSIL4001.

For workers that complete other training, you need to keep a record that demonstrates the training was approved. You can use the Silica training record form (PDF, 63.84 KB) as your record.

This video explains the types of training that must be provided to any worker involved in high-risk silica work activities or workers who may be at risk of exposure to RCS because of that work activity.

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