SafeWork SA targets workplaces with silica exposure risks

SafeWork SA Targets Workplaces With Silica Exposure Risks

SafeWork SA inspectors are visiting businesses in the stone fabrication industry to ensure employers are protecting workers from exposure to silica dust. Fabricators handling engineered stone face particular scrutiny, given the hazardous nature of cutting, grinding and polishing tasks common to this trade.

Inspectors will issue notices where they believe a business has breached safety regulations covering silica dust. These visits form part of a broader push across Australia to reduce workplace illness linked to poor dust control.

Why Silica Dust Poses Such a Serious Health Risk

SafeWork SA Executive Director Glenn Farrell said exposure to silica dust can lead to serious health problems. Fine particles generated during stone cutting rank among the most hazardous airborne substances found on construction and fabrication sites.

"Workers deserve to feel safe and protected on the job and to live happy and healthy lives with their families and loved ones, and not to deal with the shattering effects of this debilitating respiratory condition," he said.

Employers carry a legal duty to manage this high risk exposure through proper controls, training and monitoring. Businesses operating in construction, manufacturing and healthcare-adjacent trades should review their own safety practices against current standards, since regulators continue tightening enforcement around silica management.

What Employers Should Do Now

Ensuring workplace safety around silica dust requires more than good intentions — it demands documented systems. Employers should:

• Assess tasks that generate dust and classify them by risk level
• Provide appropriate respiratory protection and training
• Maintain records demonstrating ongoing compliance with health and safety obligations
• Review control measures regularly as part of a broader safety management approach

Businesses seeking practical guidance can review our Silica Dust Code of Practice Update 2023 for current compliance requirements affecting the construction and fabrication sectors.

Where hazardous materials beyond silica are present, employers should also consult resources such as our Working with Lead SWMS guidance, and our Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice Update 2023, both relevant to high risk construction environments.

Related SafeWork SA Safety Initiatives

This silica dust campaign follows similar enforcement efforts across South Australia. Readers may also find our coverage of SafeWork SA's warning on vehicle roll-away risks useful, alongside our report on SafeWork SA's initiative addressing slip and trip hazards.

Businesses managing legacy building materials should also review WorkSafe's advice on asbestos-related risks, since many older sites present overlapping hazards alongside silica dust.

Additional information is available here.