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Silica Dust

SWMS · SWMS-10446

  • 14 job steps
  • Version 7
  • Power Tools & Equipment
  • Reads on any phone

This SWMS covers the hazards and controls for work that creates respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust, found in materials common on construction sites such as soil, sand, concrete, masonry, rock and granite. It runs from cutting, drilling and grinding with saws, grinders and drills to operating drill rigs and cab-mounted plant.

It takes your crew through each step, from training, consultation and health monitoring to exclusion zones, dust control, respiratory protection, clean-up and emergency response, including the 30-day trigger for health monitoring of workers who use RPE.

It suits businesses and workers in construction, demolition or any work where RCS dust is present, from site supervisors and safety officers to workers on the ground.

Preview of the Silica Dust SWMS

Silica Dust

SWMSVersion 7
Company doing the work
[Company]
Business contact and phone
—
Responsible person (for monitoring SWMS and work)
—
Responsible person's phone
—
Responsible person's signature
—
Date signed
—
Principal contractor (PC)
[Principal contractor]
PC address
—
PC phone
[PC phone]
Date SWMS provided to PC
—
Job site address
[Site address]
Part of a construction project
—

Site management plan

If the work is part of a construction project, this SWMS must align with the requirements of the site management plan in place for the project.

High-risk construction work (HRCW)

This work involves the following high-risk construction work (HRCW), identified in the job steps:

  • Hazardous AtmosphereWork in an area that may have a contaminated or flammable atmosphere
  • Mobile PlantWork in an area where there is any movement of powered mobile plant

Working with a risk of a fall over 2 metres

The fall from height hierarchy of control level considered when establishing controls:

  • L1Work on the ground or solid construction, not chosen
  • L2Use a passive fall restraint system, e.g. guard rails, scaffolding, EWP, not chosen
  • L3Use a work positioning system, e.g. travel restraint, rope access, not chosen
  • L4Use a fall arrest system, e.g. safety harness, catch platforms, not chosen
  • L5Implement administrative controls, e.g. signage or instruction, not chosen

No level has been chosen yet.

Planning and preparation

  • Liaise with the principal contractor to identify on-site safety systems and procedures

  • Establish supervisory and communication arrangements

  • The principal contractor confirms that emergency response procedures are in place

Hold points

  • Hold points identified and signed off before continuing work: (specify the hold points)

Training and licences

  • All workers have a general construction induction card (White Card)

  • Relevant workers have relevant certificates of competency, licences and training. Specify them for each worker on the SWMS sign-off.

  • A trained first aider is on site

  • All workers are trained in site-specific emergency and evacuation procedures, this SWMS, safe work procedures and safety data sheets

Worker duties and responsibilities

  • Be in a fit condition for work, i.e. no signs of fatigue, alcohol or drugs

  • Attend all site inductions and briefings

  • Comply with all site requirements, e.g. PPE, traffic management plans (TMP)

  • Only carry out work related to the contract

  • Inspect completed work and report possible safety, environmental and quality matters to the supervisor

Monitoring and review

  • All people involved in the task must have this SWMS communicated to them before work starts

  • Review this SWMS and amend it if necessary, in consultation with relevant people, after any near miss or incident

  • If additional site hazards are identified, review this SWMS and amend the control measures to suit

  • People affected by revisions to this SWMS, including workers, contractors and subcontractors, must be informed as soon as possible

  • Give the principal contractor a copy of the revised SWMS

  • The site supervisor monitors the work against the controls in this SWMS

  • This SWMS must be kept on site and made available for inspection or review

  • Keep a record of this SWMS until the job is complete, or for two years if it was involved in a notifiable incident

  • Regardless of any other factor, the person in control of the workplace must review this SWMS at least annually

Site-specific notes

(add any notes specific to this site)

Acts, regulations and codes of practice

Australian Government

Acts and regulations

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011.

Codes of practice

  • Work Health and Safety (Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace) Code of Practice 2015

Australian Capital Territory

Acts and regulations

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011

Codes of practice

  • Work Health and Safety (Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice) Approval 2022
  • Work Health and Safety (Managing the Risks of Airborne Crystalline Silica (Silica Dust) in the Workplace Code of Practice) 2024

Queensland

Acts and regulations

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011

Codes of practice

  • Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
  • Managing respirable crystalline silica dust exposure in construction and manufacturing of construction elements Code of Practice 2022

New South Wales

Acts and regulations

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025
  • Work Health and Safety Amendment (Silica Worker Register) Regulation 2025
  • Work Health and Safety Amendment (Crystalline Silica Substances) Regulation 2024

Codes of practice

  • Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace code of practice 2022
  • Managing risks of respirable crystalline silica in the workplace Code of Practice 2026

Northern Territory

Acts and regulations

  • Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Regulations 2011

Codes of practice

  • Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace Code of Practice 2020
  • Managing risks of respirable crystalline silica in the workplace Code of Practice 2026

South Australia

Acts and regulations

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2012
  • Work Health and Safety Regulation 2012

Codes of practice

  • Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace: Code of practice 2024

Tasmania

Acts and regulations

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2012
  • Work Health and Safety Regulations 2022

Codes of practice

  • Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace - Code of practice 2018

Western Australia

Acts and regulations

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2020
  • Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022

Codes of practice

  • Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace – Code of practice 2022

Victoria

Acts and regulations

  • Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
  • Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

  • Foot Protection
  • Eye Protection
  • Face Protection
  • Hand ProtectionDisposable gloves
  • Protective ClothingDisposable or washable coveralls
  • Breathing ProtectionHalf-face respirator (P1 or P2, disposable or cartridge), fit-tested

Job steps, hazards and controls

  • Work activity

    Training

    • Hazard

      Exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS)

      Before controls4 Acute
      Controls

      • Training and information provided to workers on respirable crystalline silica (RCS) should include the following:

        • Information on RCS through safety data sheet (SDS) or labels

        • Risk management process

        • Work practices, procedures and control measures

        • How to fit, use, maintain and clean personal protective equipment (PPE)

        • Emergency procedures, including any special decontamination procedures or PPE failures

        • First aid and incident reporting procedures

        • The purpose and results of air monitoring, including the types of health tests that may be required

        • Checking controls are working and using them

        • Waste collection and disposal.

        • Explanation of the 30-day trigger: If a worker uses RPE for 30 or more days within a 12-month period for tasks involving RCS, they are required to undergo health monitoring.

      After controls2 Moderate
      Responsible
      • Organisation
      • Supervisor
    • Hazard

      Inexperienced worker

      Before controls3 High
      Controls

      • Supervision provided to inexperienced or new workers, e.g. cutting stone or concrete for the first time or using new machinery.

      After controls2 Moderate
      Responsible
      • Organisation
      • Supervisor

IR before controls · RR after controls1 LLow2 MModerate3 HHigh4 AAcute

Overall risk after controls2 MModeratethe highest rating after controls

13 more job steps, from Worker consultation to Emergency response

Each with its hazards, risk ratings and controls, plus your crew's sign-on.

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What it covers

14 job steps

  1. TrainingRCS information, PPE use, emergency procedures and the 30-day trigger, with supervision for new workers.
  2. Worker consultationWorkers and HSRs consulted, and everyone satisfied the controls suit the task before work starts.
  3. Health monitoringSilica sources identified, exposure checked against the standard, and air and health monitoring arranged.
  4. Risk assessmentDust-producing tasks, exposure and controls assessed, treating unknown processes as high-risk.
  5. Work area setupExclusion zones and warning signs that keep people without RPE out of dusty areas.
  6. General workplace dust controlWater suppression, ventilation, housekeeping without compressed air, and the 30-day RPE trigger.
  7. Respiratory PPEFit-tested RPE, coveralls and eye protection, with daily checks of PPE and equipment.
  8. Using powered saws and grindersWater delivery or M or H-class dust extraction on saws and grinders, with slurry managed.
  9. Using drillsShrouds with M or H-class dust collection, and rated vacuums for cleaning holes.
  10. Operating vehicle-mounted drill rigsDust captured at the drill bit and wetted at discharge, or drilling from a closed cab.
  11. 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.
  12. Environmental impactsSilica waste contained and labelled, slurry cleaned up and residue kept out of drains.
  13. On completionWet clean-up, HEPA vacuuming, PPE removal and decontamination without compressed air.
  14. Emergency responseMedical attention for overexposure, calling 000, first aid, site emergency procedures and incident reports.

Hazards it covers

Legislation and standards it references

Every SWMS comes with our legislation and codes of practice reference list.

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