16/06/2020

A reminder that SafeWork SA will implement a nationally agreed reduced workplace exposure limit (WEL) for respirable crystalline silica effective 1 July 2020.

Work Health and Safety (WHS) ministers have agreed by the requisite majority decision of Safe Work Australia to reduce the WES for respirable crystalline silica to an 8 hour time weighted average of 0.05mg/m3.

WHS ministers agreed the revised WEL be implemented as soon as practicable and South Australia will align with other WHS Regulators and see its introduction from next month.

SafeWork SA has recently published the Respirable Crystalline Silica Compliance Program Audit Report 2019 as part of a proactive compliance campaign for exposure risks and controls.

Based on the findings in this audit report, SafeWork SA's view is that businesses should already be reducing exposure to workers to the lowest achievable levels (as far as reasonably practicable).

Safe Work Australia have published a revised version of the Workplace exposure standards for airborne contaminants that contains the revised value for respirable crystalline silica.

Read more about how to manage respirable crystalline silica exposures.