Silica dust exposure is life-threatening.
Exposure is preventable.
You can be safe by following the right safety measures.
The work health and safety laws describe construction work as any activity related to building, altering, converting, fitting out, commissioning, renovating, repairing, maintaining, refurbishing, demolishing, decommissioning or dismantling a structure.
Silica is a natural mineral found in construction materials such as concrete, bricks, tiles, hebel, mortar and engineered stone.
This image shows a worker drilling into bricks.
Construction activities that make silica dust include:
- cutting or drilling into concrete
- demolishing structures or working with tiled walls or cement sheeting
- ripping up or cutting into existing concrete or bitumen
- jackhammering or sawing stone or existing concrete
- excavating sites with stone, sandstone, clay or granite containing silica
- sweeping silica dust or mixing and shovelling cement powder.
Workers in construction who may be exposed to silica dust include:
- trades such as plumbing, electrical work, fitting, bricklaying, plastering, maintenance and labour
- operators of excavation, earthmoving, and drilling equipment
- workers involved in road construction and tunnelling.
Resources
Managing silica at construction sites guidance note (PDF, 6.4 MB): This guidance note provides further information to ensure compliance with work health and safety requirements.