Employer duties

Effective 1 September 2024, Work Health and Safety ministers agreed to stronger regulation of processing of materials containing crystalline silica substances across all industries, particularly in relation to processing that is assessed as high risk.

Key requirements for Persons Conducting a Business Undertaking (PCBU), including employers and business owners. When processing crystalline silica substances, you must:

  • control the processing of crystalline silica substances
  • identify processing of CSS that is ‘high risk’ and develop a silica risk control plan based on the outcomes of a risk assessment
  • provide instruction, information and training to workers about the health risks associated with exposure to respirable crystalline silica, the need for appropriate controls and the application of controls
  • undertake air monitoring and provide results to SafeWork SA where they indicate the airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) in the workplace exceeds the workplace exposure standards (WES) notify the regulator here
  • provide health monitoring for workers where there is a significant risk to health.