Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) continues to be a significant workplace health concern across Australia, with increasing regulatory scrutiny and growing awareness of the serious health risks associated with silica dust exposure.
In response to these risks, governments and regulators have introduced stronger controls around the use of silica-containing materials. In July 2024, a nationally coordinated ban on the manufacture, supply, processing and installation of engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs containing crystalline silica came into effect across all jurisdictions. The ban reflects growing evidence linking silica dust exposure to serious and potentially life-threatening diseases.
At Agon Environmental, we work with organisations across a range of industries to assess silica risks, undertake monitoring programs and provide evidence-based data to support compliance and protect workers and the community.
Understanding the Risks of Silica Dust
Crystalline silica is a naturally occurring mineral found in materials such as stone, concrete, bricks, tiles and engineered stone products. Activities including cutting, grinding, drilling, polishing and demolition can generate fine silica dust particles that may become airborne and inhaled.
According to Lung Foundation Australia, exposure to respirable crystalline silica can contribute to several serious health conditions, including:
- Silicosis
- Lung cancer
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Kidney disease
- Autoimmune diseases such as scleroderma
Many of these conditions are irreversible and may develop after prolonged exposure, making effective monitoring and control measures critical for workplaces where silica-containing materials are present.
Workplace Exposure Standards and Monitoring Requirements
In September 2024, Safe Work Australia introduced stronger regulation of work involving crystalline silica substances, further strengthening protections for workers exposed to silica dust.
Safe Work Australia currently sets the Workplace Exposure Standard (WES) for respirable crystalline silica at 0.05 mg/m³ averaged over an eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA).
However, some jurisdictions, such as Victoria, have adopted a more precautionary benchmark of 0.02 mg/m³ over an eight-hour TWA to guide exposure minimisation, reflecting the broad trend towards stricter silica controls across Australia.
Under workplace health and safety legislation, if a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) is uncertain whether airborne silica concentrations exceed the exposure standard, they are required to undertake air monitoring to assess potential exposure risks.
Monitoring provides valuable information about workplace conditions, helps verify the effectiveness of existing controls and supports informed decision-making around risk management.
Agon’s Silica Monitoring and Analysis Services
Agon Environmental provides both personal exposure monitoring and static air monitoring services for respirable crystalline silica.
Personal monitoring assesses the level of exposure experienced by individual workers during specific tasks, while static monitoring measures airborne dust concentrations at fixed locations within or around a site.
All air samples collected by Agon are analysed in-house at our Adelaide laboratory using X-ray Diffraction (XRD) technology to quantify airborne crystalline silica collected on membrane filters.
In addition to airborne monitoring, our laboratory also conducts XRD analysis of bulk materials to determine mineral composition and crystalline silica content. This capability allows clients to better understand potential silica risks before works commence and supports compliance investigations where required.
Since the introduction of engineered stone restrictions, Agon has also assisted organisations, including Border Force, with the sampling and analysis of imported materials to assess compliance with current silica regulations.
Demonstrating Effective Dust Control Through Monitoring
Recently, Agon conducted static respirable crystalline silica monitoring at a large demolition site located adjacent to a childcare centre.
Monitoring was implemented following concerns regarding potential off-site dust migration during the demolition of concrete structures and the associated risk of silica exposure to nearby receptors.
Static monitors were positioned at representative locations around the site boundary during active demolition works, with multiple rounds of sampling undertaken throughout the project. Samples were analysed at Agon’s NATA accredited Adelaide laboratory using XRD.
Across all monitoring events, respirable crystalline silica concentrations were reported below the Safe Work Australia Workplace Exposure Standard. While workplace exposure standards are designed for occupational settings and are not directly applicable to public health assessments, the consistently low concentrations recorded throughout the monitoring program provided strong evidence that site dust suppression measures, including water suppression systems, were effectively minimising silica dust generation and off-site migration.
The monitoring results helped provide confidence to stakeholders, address community concerns and demonstrate the effectiveness of the controls implemented on site.
Supporting Safer Workplaces
As regulatory requirements continue to evolve and awareness of silica-related health risks increases, monitoring plays an essential role in protecting workers, neighbouring communities and businesses.
Whether you’re undertaking demolition works, construction projects, manufacturing activities or importing silica-containing materials, understanding your exposure risks is a critical first step.
Need help assessing silica risks on your site? Contact Agon Environmental to discuss monitoring, testing and compliance requirements with one of our occupational hygiene specialists.
