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CLEAN AIR. CLEAR LUNGS. BE SILICA SMART CAMPAIGN

SignTalk Learning Program

Silica dust is a significant work health and safety hazard, particularly in industries where workers are frequently exposed to it. The “Clean Air. Clear Lungs. Be Silica Smart” campaign, initiated by Safe Work Australia (read more here), focuses on addressing this specific hazard, targeting industries where the risk of exposure is highest. This includes construction, manufacturing, stonemasonry, tunnelling, demolition, mining, and quarrying.

Campaign Overview

Building on the original “Clean Air. Clear Lungs.” campaign from 2021, which broadly focused on managing occupational lung diseases, “Be Silica Smart” zeroes in on the dangers of silica dust. The campaign aims to educate and protect workers by providing crucial information in multiple languages, ensuring that culturally and linguistically diverse audiences have access to the necessary resources. The campaign website offers translations in Chinese, Arabic, Vietnamese, Korean, and Hazaragi.

A central hub of information is available on the campaign website, featuring resources for workers, employers, and consumers. This includes links to relevant information on silica dust in each state and territory, ensuring comprehensive coverage and accessibility.

Digital and Social Media Outreach

To reach a broad and diverse audience, the campaign will include a short burst of digital social advertising. This approach aims to ensure that all workers, regardless of their primary language, are aware of the dangers of silica dust and the necessary precautions to take.

Understanding Silica Dust

Silica dust is produced when materials containing silica, such as stone, bricks, concrete, or tiles, are cut, drilled, polished, or ground. These particles are so small that they can be inhaled without notice, lodging deep into the lungs and causing permanent damage. Diseases caused by silica dust include silicosis and lung cancer, both of which can be severe and fatal.

Industries and Activities at Risk

Workers in various industries can be exposed to silica dust, particularly during activities such as:

  • Creating, installing, and changing engineered stone benchtops
  • Digging, earth moving, and drilling
  • Clay and stone processing
  • Paving and surfacing
  • Mining, quarrying, and mineral ore treating
  • Tunnelling
  • Construction labouring
  • Brick, concrete, tile, or stone cutting, especially using dry methods
  • Abrasive blasting (with products containing no more than 1% crystalline silica)
  • Factory metal casting
  • Angle grinding, jack hammering, and chiselling of concrete or stone
  • Hydraulic fracturing of gas and oil wells
  • Pottery making
  • Legal Responsibilities

Employers have a legal duty to manage the health and safety risks from silica dust. This includes providing appropriate protective equipment and ensuring safe work practices. Workers also have a legal duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety, as well as that of others.

Prohibition on Engineered Stone

On 13 December, WHS ministers agreed to Safe Work Australia’s recommendation to prohibit the use of all engineered stone under the model WHS laws. This prohibition will ban any person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) from working with engineered stone, including its manufacture, supply, processing, and installation. This decision is in response to the high levels of silica dust generated when working with engineered stone, which has led to a significant increase in silicosis cases in Australia.

Next Steps

Safe Work Australia will draft amendments to the model WHS Regulations to prohibit the use of engineered stone. These amendments will then need to be implemented by each jurisdiction through their respective WHS regulations. The prohibition will not apply to the repair, minor modification, removal, or disposal of engineered stone installed prior to the prohibition.

Safe Work Australia is also developing a national framework to ensure safe working practices with pre-existing engineered stone products and guidance to support PCBUs and workers in understanding the new regulations.

Before the Prohibition Takes Effect

Until the prohibition comes into effect on 1 July 2024, workers and businesses can continue working with engineered stone under controlled conditions. This includes using wet cutting systems, on-tool dust extraction systems, or local exhaust ventilation systems. Additionally, all workers must be provided with and wear appropriate respiratory protective equipment.

USS Supports the Be Silica Smart Campaign

At USS, we are proud to join forces with WorkSafe Australia in the “Be Silica Smart” campaign. We offer a range of products designed to help manage and mitigate the risks associated with silica dust. Our safety signs, respiratory protective equipment, and dust control solutions are specifically tailored to meet the needs of industries at risk of silica exposure. By providing these essential products, USS is committed to promoting safer work environments and protecting workers’ health.

Conclusion

The “Clean Air. Clear Lungs. Be Silica Smart” campaign is a crucial initiative to protect workers from the dangers of silica dust. By providing comprehensive resources and advocating for stricter regulations, the campaign aims to reduce the incidence of silicosis and other silica-related diseases. Stay informed and take the necessary precautions to ensure a safe and healthy workplace. Visit the campaign website for more information and explore USS’s range of safety products to help you stay silica smart.