A silica risk control plan is a practical tool used to document the specific tasks and control measures for each high‑risk crystalline silica substance (CSS) processing activity undertaken by the PCBU. The plan is informed by the assessment that identified the processing of the CSS as high risk.

If a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) has assessed the processing of a CSS, or a combination of processing of a CSS, as being  high risk, a silica risk control plan must be developed covering those processing tasks.

A silica risk control plan must:

• identify all the processing of a CSS carried out at the workplace that is high risk

• include what was considered high risk in relation to the processing of a CSS

• document what control measures will be used to control the risk associated with the processing that is high risk

• how the selected control measures will be implemented, monitored and reviewed

• be set out and expressed in a way that is readily accessible and understandable to persons who use it.

Once a silica risk control plan is in place, the PCBU must put in place arrangements for ensuring that the processing of a CSS that is high risk are carried out in accordance with the plan.

A PCBU must also make sure this plan is available to all workers generally and provided to all workers before they commence the processing of a CSS.

If the processing of a CSS that is high risk is not carried out in accordance with the plan, the person must ensure that the processing is stopped immediately or as soon as it is safe to do so and resumed only in accordance with the plan.

A silica risk control plan must be reviewed and revised to maintain, so far as is reasonably practicable, a safe work environment. Review and revision of the control measures specified in the plan is required to minimise exposure to RCS whenever:

• they may no longer be effective

• they are impacted by a change at the workplace or

• where a new hazard or risk is identified.

The silica risk control plan must be developed in consultation with workers involved in carrying out processing of a CSS that is high risk and with their elected health and safety representatives (HSR) (if they have them). The plan must also be written in a way that is easy to understand for those using it.

Penalties apply for failing to have a silica risk control plan in place, where required, for failing to carry out the processing of a CSS in accordance with the silica risk control plan and for failing to review and revise relevant control measures.

Safe work method statements and silica risk control plans

A silica risk control plan is not required to be prepared before the processing of a CSS that is high risk if:

• the processing that is high risk is also high-risk construction work

• a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) has been prepared before the processing commences

• the SWMS satisfies the requirements of a silica risk control plan.