Edit Library Risk

Library risks are templates. Project copies can be edited independently.

Section Hazard / risk Default risk level Default residual risk Default control measure

It is important to know what materials you are working with. Read the Safety Data Sheet for the products that you work with and see if the components listed include quartz or silica. If there is no Safety Data Sheet because the silica is generated in a natural environment such as in tunnelling, excavating or drilling operation, you will need to seek alternative information about the likelihood of silica being present in the dust. ELIMINATING AIRBORNE CONTAMINANTS Elimination means you completely remove the hazard from your workplace. SUBSTITUTION Substitution is where you replace a product or chemical with something that is less hazardous and therefore has a lower risk. ISOLATE Isolation is where you place barriers or distance between a hazard and your workers. Physical barriers that remove the worker from contact with silica dust are the most effective form of isolation controls. ENGINEERING Engineering controls to control silica dust include: Automation when cutting, grinding or drilling. Using wet cutting / water suppression methods Local exhaust ventilation Drills, routers, saws and other equipment designed to be fitted with H-class local exhaust ventilation and a water attachment to suppress dust. Cleaning up dust with a H-class HEPA industrial vacuum cleaner. ADMINISTRATIVE Administrative controls rely on worker behaviour, and it is very important to have administrative policies and worker training when airborne contaminants/silica is identified at your workplace. You also need to supervise your workers to make sure they understand and follow your administrative policies. HOUSEKEEPING Good regular housekeeping can eliminate or reduce exposure to airborne contaminants/silica dust, even after work has stopped. Developing written rules and policies for your workplace is a good way to implement housekeeping as an administrative control. Regular cleaning should be done to prevent the build-up of dust in the workplace, including: Floors, walls other surfaces, scaffolds, plant & tools. Making sure all waste products are binned in a way that stops RCS from getting into the air, such as: Putting the waste in a covered bin, keeping the waste wet & bagging the waste. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) You should never rely solely on PPE to protect workers from airborne contaminants / silica dust. You must make sure the PPE you provide is appropriate (check the SDS if one is provided) and fits the worker who will be wearing it. This will ensure that the PPE is doing its job. Wrong or ill-fitting PPE means that airborne contaminants can harm your workers. For example, the dust can get into worker???s eyes or into the worker???s breathing zone and into their lungs. RESPIRATORY PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (RPE) RPE is used to protect an individual worker for airborne silica dust that may not be captured or removed by higher level controls ??? it is used for controlling the residual risk that may be present from work activities involving crystalline silica material. Have you been adequately training to select the suitable RPE for the task, fit tested, repeated annually & how to wear correctly & safely, clean, store, maintain and / or replace as required. Refer to the SDS & SWMS for RPE & PPE recommendations when handling products. CONTROL THE RISK BY Minimising the generation of dust, such as wet cutting. Using drills, routers, saws, and other equipment with dust collecting bags. Using tools fitted with a water attachment to suppress dust (on power saws, jack picks, scabbling picks.) Fitting large machinery (excavators and bulldozers) with cabs that have an effective air filtering system. Using metallic shot, slag products or grit for abrasive blasting, not sand. Wetting down dusty work areas and processes. Cleaning up the dust with an industrial vacuum cleaner or by wet sweeping. Keeping potential dust generating activity separate from other work areas. While wet cutting is significantly better than dry cutting or grinding, it does not completely eliminate fine dust exposure. Respirators should still be worn with wet cutting and the slurry should be removed, especially before it dries out and is likely to produce a dust risk.

Default responsible party Tags High-risk category Active

Cancel