Crystalline silica training pathways announced for workers

On 1 September 2024, new duties for businesses around the processing of crystalline silica substances (CSS) commenced, with regulatory requirements graduated, based on the level of assessed risk of the processing.

Crystalline silica is a common mineral found in a variety of CSS building materials including bricks, blocks, pavers, tiles, mortar, concrete and cement-based products (such as fibre-cement sheeting and autoclaved-aerated concrete), rocks, sand, and clay.

Under the regulation, CSS is defined as any material containing at least one per cent crystalline silica by weight and stipulates that all processing be controlled.

When processed, CSS can release respirable crystalline silica dust (RCS). Exposure to this RCS dust can lead to the development of significant health issues including the deadly disease silicosis. So, while CSS are commonly found in objects, businesses can’t be complacent when it comes to preventing their workers from exposure to RCS.

Before undertaking processing, businesses must conduct a risk assessment to determine whether the processing is high-risk.

Where the processing is assessed as high-risk, several duties for businesses are triggered. One of these is to ensure a worker receives crystalline silica training if the person reasonably believes the worker may be involved in processing of a CSS that is high-risk or may be at risk of exposure to RCS because of the processing.

Queensland has identified three Vocational Educational Training (VET) accredited courses as being suitable to meet the training requirements under the regulation.

• CPCSIL3001 - Work with products and materials containing crystalline silica.
• CPCSIL4001 - Supervise and manage work with products and materials generating respirable crystalline silica.
• 10830NAT - Course in Crystalline Silica Exposure Prevention.

As an alternative avenue to comply with the training requirement, Queensland has also endorsed criteria for training, which is recognised as regulator approved training under the regulation. This means that businesses can develop in-house training or arrange training to be delivered by a third party as long as it meets all identified criteria items.

Providing this avenue allows businesses to provide customised and operationally relevant training in addition to the VET accredited courses available.

Further information

Further details on these training options, and the criteria training should address is available at Regulation on processing crystalline silica substances.

Download Safe Work Australia’s Working with crystalline silica substances: Guidance for PCBUs.