Silica and dust air monitoring & testing services

Silica & dust air quality testing

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Know where you stand with workplace silica & dust safety

Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust poses a significant health hazard in various industries. Mobile Screening Australia provides comprehensive silica air monitoring and silica dust testing services across Australia to help businesses accurately assess and control exposure risks. Our expert team ensures you meet stringent Safe Work Australia regulations, safeguarding your employees’ health and your business’s compliance.

Get proof of compliance

Gain proof of compliance with expert silica & dust assessments. Our thorough assessments determine if your workplace meets the latest silica dust and general dust exposure limits

Results assessed against the WorkSafe & SafeWork regulations

100% compliant with WorkSafe & Safe Work Australia regulations. You can trust that Mobile Screening's silica air monitoring and dust assessments are fully compliant with all WorkSafe and Safe Work Australia regulations across every Australian state and territory.

Completed without work-day disruptions

Minimise disruption with efficient silica & dust sampling. Our personal and static air sampling for silica dust and general dust is conducted with minimal impact on your workday. Monitors are set up at the start and collected at the end of the shift, requiring less than 5 minutes of staff time.

NATA accredited analysis

Trustworthy results with NATA accredited lab analysis. Our silica testing and dust analysis are performed by NATA accredited laboratories, ensuring you receive accurate and reliable results from Australia's leading national accreditation body.

Fast & reliable results

Receive your comprehensive air quality report, detailing silica dust and general dust levels, by the following Friday. Express turnaround options are also available.

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Air quality assessments conducted by Mobile Screening are 100% compliant with regulations in all state and territories.

Trusted by industry leaders. Over 3500 active clients.

What happens during an air quality assessment?

A Mobile Screening Hygienist will be on site for the duration of your shift

  • No matter where or when your shift runs, we can be there
  • These are small, light weight sampling pumps that attach to the waist
  • A thin rubber tube runs from this sampling pump up to your staff member’s collar.
  • The air sample is captured at the captured at the sampling head affixed to the worker’s collar
  • To ensure the sample is being captured in the breathing zone (within 300mm of the mouth) this clips to the top of the cord clips your staff members collar
  • These monitors stay on your nominated staff throughout their shift without being removed.
  • Static sampling is used to evaluate the effectiveness of existing controls.
  • These samples are positioned at representative locations for the duration of the shift.
  • Our hygienist will thoroughly assesses all dust producing areas once the shift commences  to observe the effectiveness of existing controls
  • This helps formulate recommendations
  • At the end of the shift, our hygienist collects all monitors and sends them to a NATA accredited laboratory for analysis.
  • You can use this report as evidence during an audit and to inform you of areas where controls need to be implemented

Not sure about the relevant silica exposure standards for your workplace? Ask Mobile Screening for expert guidance.

Silica exposure limits & employer responsibilities

Exposure limits are strictly enforced

Severe diseases associated with respirable crystalline silica exposure include; Silicosis, lung cancer, kidney damage, and other serious illnesses.

 Compliance is mandatory:

  • Safe Work Australia has significantly reduced the workplace exposure standard for respirable crystalline silica since 2020.
  • Compliance with these limits is mandatory, reflecting the high risk of serious lung disease from silica exposure.
  • Review Safe Work Australia’s silica guidance here 

Air quality monitoring is crucial:

  • Air monitoring is necessary to determine worker exposure levels and ensure compliance with the exposure standard.
  • Monitoring must be conducted by competent persons using appropriate methods.

Learn more...

The hierarchy of controls must be followed:

  • Elimination or substitution.
  • Engineering controls (e.g., dust suppression, local exhaust ventilation).
  • Administrative controls (e.g., safe work procedures, job rotation).
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE) (e.g., respiratory protection).
  • Early detection of silica-related diseases is essential.
  • Workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica must undergo health monitoring, including respiratory health checks.
  • Accurate records of air monitoring, health monitoring, and control measures must be maintained.
  • These records are essential for demonstrating compliance and protecting workers’ health.
  • Failure to comply with silica exposure standards can result in significant penalties, including:
    • Fines.
    • Improvement notices.
    • Prohibition notices.
    • Prosecutions.

Your one-stop solution for onsite workplace screening

Safe Work Australia, silica and the change from WES to WEL​

Stronger Safe Work Australia regulations came into effect on September 1, 2024.

While the existing Workplace Exposure Standard remains:

  • 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) workplace exposure standard for Respirable Crystalline Silica is 0.05 mg/m³ remains. 
  • This standard has been in place since 2020
  • It represents the concentration of Respirable Crystalline Silica in a worker’s breathing zone.

 

The Sept 1, 2024 change focuses on bringing stronger regulations:

  • Stronger Regulation of CSS: There are now stronger Work health and safety regulation to apply to all work involving materials with 1% or more of crystalline silica.
  • High Risk Processing: A strong focus on assessing the risk. if work with respirable crystalline silica is deemed “high risk”,  very strict controls are required.
  • Risk Control Plans & Training: Business’s must create respirable silica risk control plans, and provide crystalline silica training to their workers if deemed high risk.
  • Increased Monitoring: For high risk processing there is now an increased focus on respirable crystalline silica air monitoring, and health monitoring.
  •  Control Measures: There is now a very strong push for business’s to ensure they are using the best control measures available, such as:
    • Fully enclosed operator cabins with high-efficiency air filtration
    • Effective wet dust suppression
    • Effective on-tool extraction
    • Effective local exhaust ventilation

Sources and related content

Workplace exposure standard for respirable crystalline silica – Safe Work Australia

www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au

Crystalline silica and silicosis – Safe Work Australia

www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au

Stronger regulation of crystalline silica substances from 1 September 2024

www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au

Respirable Crystalline Silica & Respirable Dust FAQs

General Silica & Dust FAQs

Materials like concrete, bricks, tiles, mortar, stone, and engineered stone.

Cutting, grinding, drilling, sanding, and demolition of silica-containing materials.   

Inhaling silica dust can lead to serious lung diseases like silicosis, lung cancer, and other respiratory problems.

The Australian Standard is 0.05 mg/m3, which is standard everywhere – it is noted that overarching regulations and guidelines may differ per state/territory.

No. Any worker involved in activities that generate silica dust is at risk, including those in manufacturing, construction, mining, and other industries.

Silica & Dust Assessment FAQs

If your work involves activities that generate silica dust, you likely need an assessment. If you are unsure, you must conduct one.

It involves measuring the concentration of respirable crystalline silica dust in the workplace air over a standard shift.  

Regularly, especially after changes to work processes, materials, or control measures.

You must implement control measures to reduce exposure, such as dust suppression, ventilation, or respiratory protection.

Records of assessment results, control measures, and worker health monitoring

Control & Compliance FAQs

Dust suppression (wet cutting), local exhaust ventilation, and respiratory protection

Yes, health monitoring is mandatory for workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica.   

Fines, improvement notices, prohibition notices, and potential prosecution.

No, all businesses must comply with silica exposure standards.

PPE is a last resort. The hierarchy of control must be followed, with engineering controls being preferred.

Safe Work Australia and your state/territory WHS regulator

Still have questions? Ask an air quality expert here...