Protecting Your Health and Compensation: Insights from the Respirable Crystalline Silica Audit Campaign

In the ongoing efforts to safeguard workers from the risk of silicosis, WorkCover Queensland inspectors conducted audits on all 158 identified stone benchtop fabrication workplaces from August 2020 to May 2021.

Since 2017, 238 workers in the stone benchtop fabrication industry have been diagnosed with silicosis due to exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) during their occupational activities.

This constituted the third phase of compliance audit campaigns initiated by WorkCover Queensland, focusing on RCS exposure control and worker health monitoring within the stone benchtop fabrication sector. Workplaces were evaluated based on the requirements outlined in the Managing RCS dust exposure in the stone benchtop industry Code of Practice 2019, effective from 31 October 2019.

To assist businesses in adhering to the new regulations, workplaces received a copy of the Code along with guidance and information on managing RCS risks before the audits.

Enforcement actions were taken during 233 site visits, resulting in 368 measures to address non-compliance, including:

  • 302 improvement notices
  • 27 infringement notices (totaling $79,920 in fines)
  • 24 prohibition notices
  • 12 immediate compliances (issues resolved during inspection)
  • two electrical safety notices
  • one notice to produce documents.

Key non-compliant findings

Inspectors identified the following key non-compliance issues:

Area of non-compliance
Issue

Air monitoring

  • Failure to conduct air monitoring
  • Frequency of air monitoring not in line with the Code
  • Air monitoring report not in line with the Code

Health monitoring

  • Failure to provide health monitoring to workers
  • Employee reluctance to attend health monitoring

Respiratory protective equipment

  • Failure to conduct fit testing for workers wearing tight-fitting  respirators.
  • Failure to provide powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR)
  • PAPR not worn correctly by workers

House keeping

  • Inadequate housekeeping
  • Inadequate cleaning methods

Water suppression

  • Inadequate use of water suppression
  • Failure to contain overspray

Cutting

  • Uncontrolled dry cutting of materials


Managing RCS risks to workers and others

  • Never undertake uncontrolled dry cutting, grinding, trimming, drilling, sanding or polishing.
  • Enclose slab cutting, grinding, trimming, sanding or polishing equipment.
  • Use wet cutting methods like water jetting and on-tool water suppression.
  • Use on-tool extraction with H class vacuum/dust extractor.
  • Use powered air purifying respirators with at least P2 filters.
  • Routinely clean up any residual dust using wet methods, low-pressure water or H Class vacuum.
  • Dispose of slurry before it dries out.
  • Check recycled water is filtered properly.
  • Carry out air monitoring to check dust controls are working properly.
  • Provide annual health monitoring for workers to detect early changes in health.
  • Prepare a safe work method statement for onsite installation and provide it to the principal contractor or builder.
  • Always consult workers when making decisions on the matters above.


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