Respirable crystalline silica toolbox talk

What it is

Fine silica dust from cutting, drilling, grinding or crushing stone, concrete, brick and tile that can cause silicosis and other lung disease.

Controls to check, most effective first

1. Do not use banned engineered stone products, and choose lower-silica materials or pre-cut components where possible.
2. Use water suppression or on-tool extraction connected to a vacuum rated for hazardous dust when cutting, grinding or drilling.
3. Clean up with wet methods or a vacuum rated for hazardous dust, and never dry sweep or use compressed air.
4. Arrange air monitoring to confirm exposures stay below the workplace exposure standard for respirable crystalline silica.
5. Provide health monitoring for workers at significant risk from silica exposure, as WHS laws require.
6. Wear fit-tested respiratory protection suited to the task, and be clean-shaven where a tight-fitting respirator is used.

Where it comes up on the job

Work steps from SafetyDocs templates that deal with respirable crystalline silica:

• Controlling silica dustKeep the cab sealed and clean to control silica dustFrom Road Rail Excavator
• Cutting materials & identification of respirable crystalline silica dustCut materials with water or HEPA dust controlFrom Cladding
• Handling, transporting, or disposing of materials containing silica dust (Examples only)Contain materials in sealed containers or sheeting, wet them down and train workers in safe handling.From Silica Dust Management Plan
• Operating cab-mounted plant and vehicles that generate or are adjacent to silica dustSealed, positive-pressure cabins with filtered air intakes, windows closed and cabs kept clean.From Silica Dust
• Provide training & information to workers on respirable crystalline silica dustTrain workers to identify silica dust from SDS and labels, prevent exposure, check controls and use and fit-check RPE.From Plasterboard

Questions for the crew

1. Where could respirable crystalline silica come up on this job today?
2. Is any of this work on today's job: Controlling silica dust; Cutting materials & identification of respirable crystalline silica dust; Handling, transporting, or disposing of materials containing silica dust (Examples only)?
3. The most effective control is: “Do not use banned engineered stone products, and choose lower-silica materials or pre-cut components where possible”. Can we do that here? If not, why not?
4. Which controls for respirable crystalline silica are missing or not working on this site?
5. When would you stop work because of respirable crystalline silica, and who would you tell?
6. How do we report a hazard, a near miss or an incident on this job?