With the formation of the NSW Respirable Crystalline Silica Expert Taskforce, attention is shifting to the growing health risks posed by airborne silica in industries like quarrying.
Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) – produced during the crushing, cutting, and drilling of stone – is a well-documented hazard that can lead to silicosis, lung cancer, and other respiratory illnesses.
Quarry environments are particularly challenging when it comes to controlling dust exposure. Equipment like crushers, conveyors, and screens produce fine silica dust that can remain suspended in the air.
Maintenance workers are at risk due to:
- close contact with dust-generating machinery
- frequent entry into confined, dusty spaces
- extended periods of exposure with limited ventilation
- inconsistent use of protective gear due to comfort or mobility concerns.
- These workers often face higher exposure levels than other site personnel, yet are sometimes the least equipped with appropriate respiratory protection.
Safer work practices and controls
The foundation of silica risk management lies in the hierarchy of controls:
- Elimination – Removing high silica materials where possible
- Substitution – Replacing silica materials with less harmful materials
- Engineering and isolation controls – Using dust suppression, water sprays, ventilation, or removing employees from the area
- Administrative controls – Implementing safe work procedures, training and awareness, supervision and instruction
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) – Supplying effective, user-friendly respiratory gear
While suppression systems and isolation can reduce airborne dust, PPE remains essential, particularly for maintenance teams who work in hard-to-engineer spaces.
Choosing practical protection
Respiratory protection must be effective and wearable. Workers often avoid bulky, hose-based powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) because they restrict movement in confined areas, leading to lower compliance and increased exposure. Innovative respirators that are lightweight, compact, and easy to use are helping bridge this gap.
Products like the CleanSpace CST ULTRA – a newer-generation PAPR – have been developed with mobility and comfort in mind, making them a viable option for high-dust, high-heat environments such as quarry sites.
Features such as a hose-free design, real-time airflow adjustment, and long battery life support both protection and practicality. When workers are comfortable using their PPE, they are more likely to wear it consistently, improving safety outcomes.
Staying ahead of regulation
As safety standards continue to evolve and focus intensifies on occupational lung disease, quarry operators must be proactive. This includes:
- always be looking to reduce dust
- keep workers out of dust hazardous environments where possible
- conduct regular personal hygiene monitoring for dust exposure
- training on silica hazards and safe practices
- ensuring respiratory protection is both appropriate and accepted by workers.
The goal is not just compliance but a genuine commitment to reducing long-term health risks for those who keep quarry operations running.
The IQA has added a new self-paced online course, “Respirable Crystalline Silica,” to its professional development offerings. •
For more information, email education@quarry.com.au.
.png){kind=small}
