Respirable Crystalline Silica

Why it matters

Cutting, grinding, and drilling concrete, brick, and stone releases silica dust so fine you cannot see it hanging in the air. Breathe it for years and it scars your lungs: silicosis is irreversible and it has come back hard in the trades. The dust you can see is the least of it. The dust that hurts you is the dust you cannot.

Hazards

• ⚠ Dry cutting and grinding concrete, pavers, brick, and tile
• ⚠ Sweeping up dry dust and sending it airborne again
• ⚠ Working in an enclosed area with no ventilation
• ⚠ Relying on a paper dust mask instead of proper RPE
• ⚠ Bystanders in the dust cloud with no protection

Controls and safe practices

• ✓ Follow the hierarchy in reg 36: wet cutting or on-tool dust extraction first, RPE last, never RPE alone.
• ✓ Use water suppression on saws and grinders, or an M or H class vacuum on the tool.
• ✓ Fit and wear correctly fitted respiratory protection as required under reg 44, and fit-test it.
• ✓ Never dry sweep: use a vacuum or wet methods to clean up.
• ✓ Isolate the dusty work and keep other trades out of the cloud.
• ✓ Rotate tasks and keep exposure as low as reasonably practicable.

Crew discussion questions

1. What are we cutting today, and is it wet or on-tool extracted?
2. Who else is working near the dust, and are they protected?
3. Are our masks the right type, and have they been fit-tested?
4. How are we cleaning up: vacuum or broom?

Applicable WHS citations

reg 36, reg 44

More toolbox talks

• Scaffold Safety
• Working Around Mobile Plant
• Manual Handling and Your Back
• Noise and Your Hearing
• White Cards and Site Induction
• The SWMS You Just Signed

Talks by trade

ConcreterBricklayerTilerAll toolbox talks

SWMS by trade

ConcreterBricklayerTiler