Melbourne quarry fined for exposing workers to silica dust

Melbourne Quarry Fined for Exposing Workers to Silica Dust

A Melbourne quarry has copped a $180,000 fine after failing to keep its employees safe from harmful dust exposure. The Melbourne Magistrates' Court found the company guilty of failing to provide a safe workplace after several workers were exposed to silica dust.

This case highlights ongoing safety concerns within Victoria's construction and quarrying sectors, where dust control remains a critical workplace hazard.

What Happened at the Quarry

A WorkSafe Victoria investigation in September 2019 revealed that workers were exposed to deadly silica dust during "blasting, crushing, mixing, screening and transferring of quarried rock." These processes, common across construction and extraction industries, generate fine particles capable of causing severe respiratory harm when proper control measures aren't in place.

Court proceedings confirmed the company failed to manage risk adequately, leaving staff exposed to conditions that breached workplace safety obligations. The Melbourne Magistrates' Court also ordered the company to pay $13,886 in legal fees on top of the fine.

Why Silica Dust Safety Matters

Silica dust poses one of the most serious long-term health risks facing workers in construction, quarrying, and manufacturing across Australia. Repeated inhalation can lead to irreversible lung damage, making dust suppression and monitoring essential parts of any safety management system.

Employers carry a legal duty to ensure control measures — such as wet cutting, ventilation, and respiratory protective equipment — are implemented and maintained. WorkSafe Victoria continues to prioritise enforcement action against businesses that fail to meet these obligations, reinforcing that safety compliance isn't optional.

Lessons for Construction and Quarrying Businesses

This case serves as a reminder that safety failures carry significant financial and reputational consequences. Businesses operating in high-risk environments should regularly review their risk control processes and ensure documentation aligns with current regulatory standards.

• Conduct regular air monitoring to assess dust levels during quarrying and construction activities
• Provide appropriate respiratory protective equipment and train workers in its correct use
• Maintain up-to-date safe work method statements for high-risk dust-generating tasks
• Review equipment maintenance schedules to ensure dust extraction systems function effectively

Similar enforcement outcomes have occurred elsewhere, including a Melbourne builder penalised for exposing workers to fall risks and Queensland builders fined for exposing workers to fall risk, demonstrating that regulators across the country are actively pursuing safety breaches.

Staying Compliant with Silica Dust Regulations

Businesses can strengthen compliance by reviewing the Silica Dust Code of Practice Update 2023, which outlines current obligations for managing dust hazards. Practical resources such as a Silica Dust SWMS template and a Silica Dust Management Plan help companies document control measures clearly and consistently.

For equipment-heavy operations, maintaining dust extraction tools is equally important. Reviewing dust extractor operation procedures alongside broader maintenance protocols supports ongoing compliance and worker health protection.

To read the full story, go to the WorkSafe Victoria website.