Silica dashboard

Current Silica project status (2017-2024)

National activities

On July 1 2024, a total ban on engineered stone came into effect.

The ban applies to the manufacture, supply, processing and installation of engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs. It excludes products which do not require processing or modification, such as jewellery, garden ornaments, sculptures, and kitchen sinks, and porcelain products and sintered stone that don’t contain resin.

In NSW, there is a transition period for engineered stone contracts entered into before 31 December 2023 and include installation prior to 31 December 2024.

For engineered stone already installed, a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) is required to notify SafeWork NSW when processing installed legacy engineered stone. This is done through an annual online notification form that can be found on the SafeWork NSW website.

Additional Work Health and Safety (WHS) regulations for high-risk crystalline processes across all industries commenced on 1 September 2024.

More information about the ban and regulation amendments in NSW can be found on the SafeWork NSW site.

SafeWork NSW key activities

• The Workplace Exposure Standard (WES) exceedance notification system was introduced in NSW under the legislative changes. Workplaces that process high-risk crystalline silica substances (CSSs) and record an exceedance of the workplace exposure standard (WES) during air monitoring activities must notify SafeWork NSW of the exceedance. PCBUs must also make the results of all air monitoring reports readily available to workers and keep the reports for 30 years. PCBUs should be mindful of privacy legislation when making reports available to workers.
• Webinars have been held to provide industry with information about the silica legislation changes in effect from 1 July 2024 and 1 September 2024. Watch the webinar covering information on the engineered stone ban.
• Launch of the Silica Safety Mask Basic video in English, Arabic, Mandarin, and Vietnamese. The video explains how to properly wear and look after masks.
• Launch of the Respiratory protective equipment and requirements for fit testing workers page. The page focuses on respiratory protective equipment (RPE), including fit testing and fit checking requirements. Fit testing and fit checking are essential for workers exposed to silica dust.
• Development and launch of the Silica Awareness and Safety online course. The 1.5 hour course provides an overview of key risks of silica exposure, health effects and control measures. It costs $105 per person.
• Silica test tracker poster was distributed to businesses to remind them of their yearly testing obligations, including fit testing for RPE and health monitoring. 
• Ongoing engagement with three major linguistic groups through the Community Voices program. The program targets the engineered stone industry, delivering in-language safety messaging.
• Internal knowledge sharing within SafeWork NSW, focusing on cross-cultural engagements in the engineered stone industry to apply to other relevant strategies.
• Silica safety in construction compliance program concluded in March 2024. This consisted of a state-wide visits program led by construction team inspectors, with a focus on raising awareness and providing education. Inspectors also conducted a verification program to reduce exposure to harmful silica dust in workers and others in NSW construction workplaces. A social media campaign and interactive webinar was used to raise awareness on the dangers of exposure to silica and control measures. Read the findings report.