On this page:

Air monitoring
Notifying exceedances to the regulator
Health monitoring

Air monitoring

For each processing of a crystalline silica substance (CSS) that is high risk at the workplace, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must:

  • undertake personal air monitoring (using a device worn in a worker’s breathing zone) for respirable crystalline silica in accordance with regulation 50
  • provide health monitoring in accordance with Division 6 of Part 7.1 of the WHS Regulations for all workers carrying out ongoing work involving exposure to RCS, including when undertaking processing of a CSS that is high risk, if there is a significant risk to the worker's health because of exposure.

When is air monitoring required?

While air monitoring may be undertaken as part of determining whether the processing of a CSS is high risk, in addition, a PCBU must undertake air monitoring for RCS if:

  • You are uncertain whether the airborne concentration for RCS exceeds the Workplace Exposure Standard (WES); or
  • If monitoring is necessary to assess the risk to health from RCS at the workplace.

For example, this may be required when if controls or work practices have changed.

Who can conduct air monitoring?

Air monitoring requires specialist knowledge and training and is best undertaken by an occupational hygienist or qualified consultant. It is recommended that you ask to see evidence of their qualifications, experience and competence.

How is air monitoring conducted?

A good air monitoring program is conducted over multiple days to capture variability. Sampling should ideally be taken over a full shift and during normal work tasks.

Results from an air monitoring program should include statistical analysis of the data to provide a reliable estimate of the true range of RCS exposures. The length of an air monitoring program will depend on factors such as the variety of work processes that need examining, the extent of monitoring required, the nature of the processes and the type of laboratory analyses required.

What will a consultant do?

The consultant will use their expertise and judgement to work out an air monitoring strategy and advise how many workers, and in what areas, will be monitored and over what time period. They will ensure the sampling is representative of actual work exposure and address any sampling errors and statistical validity.

Determining compliance

Expert judgement and advice may be required to determine if compliance with the regulations for exposure standards is being achieved. Compliance can be proven only when exposures are reliably below the workplace exposure standard.

Where it has been determined that RPE must be worn to minimise the risk of exposure to airborne contaminants, the protection provided by the RPE can be taken into account when determining compliance with an exposure standard, provided all other reasonably practicable higher order controls in the hierarchy of control measures have been implemented, and the RPE is worn correctly.

Statistically valid exposure data – air monitoring

Personal air monitoring must be conducted in the breathing zone of the worker, outside RPE if worn. PCBUs can carry out representative sampling of a  Similar Exposure Groups (SEGs) from the workforce which should be 6–10 samples per group to be statistically valid.

All personal sampling should be undertaken in accordance with AS2985:2009 Workplace atmospheres - Method for sampling and gravimetric determination of respirable dust, with samples analysed by a NATA-accredited (or equivalent) laboratory using validated analysis methods, such as ISO16258-1 (Direct-on-filter by XRD) or ISO19087 (Indirect method by FTIR). Analysis by NATA-accredited labs using validated methods (ISO16258-1, ISO19087).

Record keeping

Air monitoring results are to be kept for 30 years. Records must be accessible to exposed workers. Any previous air monitoring results must be considered as part of your assessment to determine if the processing of a CSS if high risk.

Air Monitoring reports must include:

  • Purpose/background including the WES.
  • Task details, hazards, and work patterns.
  • Control measures and their performance.
  • Sampling details (duration, calibration, methods).
  • Analysis details (lab, calibration).
  • Interpretation of results (sources, adequacy of controls, risk assessment, compliance).
  • Recommendations for example dust control plan, changes to controls, training, further monitoring, health monitoring.

Notifying exceedances to the Regulator

PCBU’s are required to notify SafeWork SA of exceedances of Workplace Exposure Standards for respirable crystalline silica and provide copies of the results/reports to us as soon as reasonably practicable and no more than 14 days from the date the result was reported to the PCBU

What penalties apply?

A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) that fails to follow the new Work Health and Safety laws will face fines up to $42,000.

Individual workers or managers that fail to follow the new laws could face fines of up to $8,400.

Health Monitoring

Depending on the circumstances, health monitoring may not only be required for workers who regularly undertake processing of a CSS that is high risk but also for workers who may regularly be in the vicinity of RCS or in contact with RCS in other ways such as through cleaning work areas or equipment.

You should consider a health monitoring program for all workers undertaking ongoing tasks involving processing of a CSS at your workplace, especially if:

  • workers are undertaking these tasks frequently or for longer durations
  • workers regularly need to use administrative controls or RPE to control risks, or
  • statistically valid exposure data indicates the airborne concentration of RCS is greater than 50% of the WES.

If you are not sure whether health monitoring is required for your workers, you can seek specialist advice from an occupational hygienist, health monitoring or occupational doctor, or SafeWork SA.

Schedule 14 of the WHS Regulations details the requirements of Health monitoring for RCS. These include:

  • collection of demographic, medical and occupational history
  • records of personal exposure
  • standardised respiratory questionnaire
  • standardised respiratory function tests, for example, FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in one second), FVC (forced vital capacity) and FEV1/FVC, and
  • chest X-ray full posterior-anterior (PA) view.
  • All full-size PA chest X-rays should be taken in a specialist radiology practice or hospital department. The X-rays should be read by a radiologist who meets the reporting requirements and competencies of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists or is qualified as a ‘B reader’. A B reader is a radiologist who has undertaken specialised training to detect dust lung diseases such as silicosis, coal workers pneumoconiosis, mixed dust pneumoconiosis and progressive massive fibrosis (PMF).
  • High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is more sensitive and effective than Xrays in the early detection of silicosis. A low dose HRCT scan of the chest (non-contrast) may be used by the registered medical practitioner supervising or carrying out the health monitoring, depending on the worker’s history and levels of silica exposure. Low dose HRCT may be used instead of, or as an adjunct to, X-ray. Alternative imaging methods are being developed and may also be considered.

PCBUs must pay for the expenses related to health monitoring. Find further information on our health monitoring page.

The medical practitioner doing the workers’ health monitoring will provide you with a health monitoring report relating to each worker. Health monitoring reports must be kept by the PCBU for 30 years and the worker must be given a copy of the report.
You must provide the health monitoring report to the Regulator if the medical practitioner doing the monitoring:

  • Informs you that a worker may have contracted a disease injury or illness as a result of the carrying out the work or
  • Recommends that you take remedial measures (such as stopping a worker from continuing to perform particular work or implementing additional exposure controls
  • A PCBU must consider the health monitoring results when assessing if the processing of a CSS is high risk.

Notifying exceedances to the Regulator

PCBU’s are required to notify SafeWork SA of exceedances of Workplace Exposure Standards for respirable crystalline silica and provide copies of the results/reports to us as soon as reasonably practicable and no more than 14 days from the date the result was reported to the PCBU

What penalties apply?

A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) that fails to follow the new Work Health and Safety laws will face fines up to $42,000.

Individual workers or managers that fail to follow the new laws could face fines of up to $8,400.