Is Silica Awareness Training Mandatory in NSW & ACT?
Posted on December 19, 2024
- What is silica dust
- Why and for whom training is now compulsory
- What training must entail
- How your business can become compliant.
The good news is that in just four hours, you and your team can be fully up-to-date, compliant, and ready to deliver best-practice safety in your workplace.
Indeed, rather than seeing this as red tape box-ticking, we want businesses to understand that training has the potential to be life-changing and even life-saving… And it can all happen in less than half a day.
What is Silica Sand?
More commonly known as silica dust or crystalline silica, the term refers to micro-sized mineral particles found in concrete, bricks, mortar, tiles, stone, sand and even some plastic.
These particles are released when disturbed (through cutting, crushing, drilling, etc). If inhaled, they can cause major health problems, including scoliosis and cancer, particularly in the lungs. As a result, strict workplace regulations are now in place to mitigate silica crystalline exposure to anyone at risk.
Who Must Undertake Silica Dust Awareness Training?
As a business owner or manager, it is your responsibility to provide the necessary training to:
- Anybody who risks coming into contact with respirable crystalline silica (RCS) as a result of mechanical processing operations; or
- Any worker who is at high risk as a result of processing a crystalline silica substance (CSS).
What Must Silica Awareness Training in NSW and ACT Cover?
Importantly, you must provide Worksafe NSW-approved training, and any course must cover the criteria below. We’ve listed some of the more important requirements, but this summary is by no means exhaustive.
- Being able to identify all risks inherent with RCS exposure.
- Being able to identify silicosis symptoms.
- Knowing how to determine if crystalline silica is present in a material (this includes understanding all its forms).
- Interpreting safety data sheets and manufacturing information as per section 529A of the WHS Regulation.
- Understanding how RCS forms during mechanical processing, how workers risk coming into contact, and the relevant workplace RCS exposure standards.
- Defining ‘controlled’ CSS processing as per 529B of the WHS Regulation.
- Identifying the appropriate respiratory protective equipment (RPE), including how to use and maintain it, and ensuring its compliance with Australian and New Zealand standards.
- Outlining housekeeping and cleaning control measures and methods that can help reduce or even eliminate exposure to RCS.
While there are several more criteria, the good news is that Sydney Safety Training courses make it simple and fast to grasp and retain the necessary information. Our 10830NAT Course in Crystalline Silica Exposure Prevention offers approved and officially recognised training.
Maintaining a Record of Silica Awareness Certification
As part of our approved course, successful participants receive an officially recognised certificate of completion.
You are obliged to maintain a training record of any personnel who undertake an approved silica awareness course. You must maintain records (which you can keep in your silica risk control plan) for five years following their final work day with your business.
Contact Us About Silica Awareness and Safety
Reducing exposure to risk in the workplace is our area of expertise. If you have any questions about this or other safety training courses we provide, please contact our friendly and knowledgeable team.
Keep your operations running without compromising anyone’s safety.