Silica Dust Controls Remain Critical Across Australian Manufacturing

Safe Work Australia published a Be Silica Smart reminder on 20 July 2026, emphasising that silica dust controls apply wherever qualifying materials are processed. The guidance is relevant to manufacturing, construction, tunnelling, demolition, mining, quarrying and stonemasonry, as well as maintenance teams and contractors working on industrial sites.

Silica Dust Can Cause Fatal Lung Disease

Respirable crystalline silica can be released when stone, bricks, concrete, tiles and similar products are cut, drilled, polished or ground. The finest particles can travel deep into the lungs and cause permanent damage, including silicosis and lung cancer.

The campaign does not introduce a new commencement date. It reinforces existing work health and safety duties and highlights specific regulations for work involving materials containing at least 1% crystalline silica. Employers must manage risks, while workers must take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others.

Manufacturers Need Task-Specific Exposure Controls

Duty holders should identify silica-containing materials and the tasks that generate airborne dust. Elimination or substitution should be considered first, followed by engineering controls such as isolation, wet methods and on-tool extraction. Respiratory protection, training, cleaning methods, exposure monitoring and health monitoring may also be required.

Manufacturers should include contractors, maintenance work and occasional cutting tasks in their assessments. Dry sweeping and compressed-air cleaning can redistribute hazardous dust. Procurement specifications and supplier information should make silica content visible before materials reach the production floor.