Crystalline silica – general fact sheet

Silica dust is a hazard when inhaled into the lungs. This fact sheet helps you manage the risks.

View the crystalline silica technical fact sheet

What is crystalline silica?Crystalline silica is a naturally occurring mineral found in most rocks, sand, clay, and in some manufactured products such as bricks, concrete, tile and engineered stone. In its stable solid form, crystalline silica is not harmful.
Where is crystalline silica used?Crystalline silica is a very common mineral used in manufacturing building products and construction materials. Manufactured materials containing silica include fibre cement sheets, bricks, tiles, and cement. Workers can also come across crystalline silica when undertaking construction works that require excavation or tunnelling through quartz containing rocks such as shale and sandstone.

How can crystalline silica harm workers?

Very fine particles of crystalline silica dust present a hazard when inhaled into the lungs. Airborne dust is most likely to occur when materials or products containing silica are cut, sanded, drilled or any other action (task) that creates fine dust. Exposure to RCS dust can have serious health effects depending how much dust a worker breathes in and for how long. These health effects can include:

  • silicosis – a scarring of the lung which can result in a severe shortness of breath and is not reversible. Severe cases can result in complications leading to death
  • lung cancer
  • kidney disease.

Applying risk controls such as minimising the generation of airborne silica dust can reduce hazardous exposures and prevent illness in the workplace.

How to protect yourself and workers.

  • 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 must complete an approved crystalline silica training course
  • Provide all workers with information and instruction on how to work safely with silica products in the workplace
  • Eliminate tasks that generate dust where possible
  • Apply water suppression systems to reduce dust generation
  • Use local exhaust ventilation systems to capture and remove dust at the source
  • Use dust capture systems on portable tools
  • Instruct workers in the correct use, selection, fit, and maintenance of respiratory protective equipments
  • Avoid using compressed air to remove or clean settled dust
  • Avoid dry sweeping where possible
  • Follow instructions and controls outlined in safety data sheets and product labels.
Monitoring requirements
  • Health monitoring must be provided for workers who are involved in any ongoing work that creates RCS dust, even if respiratory protection is used to control exposure
  • Air monitoring must be undertaken when:
    • it is necessary to determine if workers are at risk from exposure to RCS, or
    • you’re unsure if the amount of airborne RCS at the workplace exceeds the Workplace Exposure Standard (WES) levels.

Further information

Translated resources

Silica videos

Working safely with crystalline silica

Crystalline silica (or quartz) is found in most rocks, sands, and clays. It’s estimated that one in every 100 workers exposed to silica dust will develop disease due to past exposure. Learn how to manage the risks involved when working with silica dust.

Silica dust – controlled cutting of bricks and concrete using on-tool capture

On-tool dust capture is an effective way to eliminate and reduce exposure to silica dust. This video safety alert highlights how to use on-tool dust capture to ensure the safe cutting of materials such as bricks and concrete.

Silica dust – controlled cutting of bricks and concrete using water

Using water to control dust while cutting materials such as brick or concrete is a very effective way to eliminate and reduce exposure to silica dust. This video safety alert highlights how to use water to control dust.

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