This course explains what is meant by Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS), and the diseases long-term exposure can cause, and health-monitoring requirements. It discusses using water and dust suppressants to reduce exposure to dust when operating heavy equipment or utility vehicles for tasks such as grading and excavating. The course recommends that operators of earth-moving equipment are in enclosed cabs.
This course has been written according to the Safe Work Australia Guidance material and meets the national and state requirements, including the requirements of the NSW Regulator. The course addresses the 2024 SafeWork Australia training requirements when working with silica dust.
Learning Outcomes:
At the completion of this course, learners will:
1. Identify the health risks associated with exposure to RCS, including signs and symptoms of silicosis.
2. Learn how to determine if a material contains crystalline silica, including:
a. the forms of crystalline silica listed in 529A of the WHS Regulation
b. the common materials and products that are known to contain crystalline.
3. Learn how to interpret safety data sheets (SDS) and manufacturer’s information, including the meaning of ‘processing’ in relation to CSS as defined by section 529A of the WHS Regulation.
4. Learn how RCS is generated during processing, how workers can be exposed and the relevant workplace exposure standards for the forms of RCS.
5. Understand what is ‘controlled’ processing of CSS under section 529B of the WHS Regulation.
6. Understand the requirements for the controls listed in subsection 529B(1)(b) of the WHS Regulation, how they work and how to use them.
7. Learn about the types of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) specified by ‘AS/NZS 1715:2009 Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment’, deemed as being suitable to protect against exposure to RCS.
8. Learn how to determine if RPE is compliant with the required standard ‘AS/NZS 1716:2012 Respiratory protective devices’.
9. Understand how to fit-check and fit-test RPE and learn about the facial-hair requirements for tight-fitting RPE in compliance with ‘AS/NZS 1715:2009 Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment’.
10. Learn about general housekeeping and cleaning methods to eliminate or minimise risk of exposure to RCS for CSS processes.
11. Learn about the WHS Regulation requirements for:
a. silica risk control plans (or safe work method statements (SWMS) for construction work) under section 529CB of the WHS Regulation when undertaking processing which is high risk.
b. compliance with a silica risk control plan under section 529CC of the WHS Regulation or, for SWMS, section 300 of the WHS Regulation.
c. compliance with section 529CE including:
i. determining when air monitoring may be required under section 50 of the WHS Regulation.
ii. providing the regulator with results of any air monitoring undertaken which shows the airborne concentration of RCS has exceeded the workplace exposure standard for crystalline silica.
iii. determining when health monitoring may be required under part 7.1 division 6 of the WHS Regulation.
Course length: 15 mins (9-minute animated and subtitled video + 11 Q&A short answer assessment)
- Certificate of completion
- In-depth Reporting
- Facilitator’s Guide including video transcript and Assessment Q&A’s
- Optional pass rate
- All content can be customised
- Pause and resume function
Available in English (Australian).
This course is suitable for use in Australia and New Zealand.