Crystalline silica duties checker

Answer a few questions about the material and the work to see your crystalline silica duties, from controlling dust to high-risk work plans and monitoring, and where the engineered stone ban applies.

Figures checked 5 November 2026. Free to use, no sign-in.

Victoria and Western Australia have their own Acts; the tool switches to them.

Does the material contain 1% or more crystalline silica?

Check section 3 of the safety data sheet. Natural stone, concrete, brick, tiles and sandstone often do.

Is it cut, ground, drilled, sanded or crushed with power tools or plant?

Also quarrying, tunnelling, mechanical screening and roadheaders.

Has the processing been assessed as high risk?

Consider the task, silica content, how often and how long, and whether dust could exceed half the exposure standard.

Is it construction work?

Crystalline silica duties

On your answers

Silica processing must be controlled

What you must do

  • The processing must be controlled: put reasonably practicable controls in place and use at least one of isolation, an enclosed cabin with filtered air, wet dust suppression, on-tool extraction or local exhaust ventilation, with respiratory protection for anyone still at risk (r 529B–529C).
  • Assess in writing whether the processing is high risk. If you can’t tell, it is treated as high risk until you show it isn’t (r 529CA).

Exposure and monitoring

  • Keep exposure below the exposure standard of 0.05 mg/m³ (8-hour average). Air monitoring is required if you are not certain on reasonable grounds that you are under it (r 50).
  • Health monitoring is required for ongoing work with a significant risk to health from crystalline silica (r 368).

Source: Chapter 8A (r 529A–529J) and r 50 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW).

General information, not legal or safety advice. Confirm your duties with your regulator.

How this works

WHS Regulations Chapter 8A: processing a material with 1% or more crystalline silica must be “controlled” (r 529B–529C). If it is high risk, you need a silica risk control plan, or a SWMS for construction work, training, air monitoring with results over the standard reported within 14 days, and health monitoring (r 529CA–529CE).

Engineered stone: new work is prohibited (r 529D); removal, repair, minor modification and disposal are allowed if controlled and notified to the regulator first (r 529F–529G).

Victoria: Part 4.5 of the OHS Regulations 2017 uses a crystalline silica hazard control statement for high risk crystalline silica work, and has its own prohibition (r 319Y) and exceptions.

Legal basis

Checked against these sources on 5 November 2026. Spotted a figure that looks wrong? Tell us.

Questions

Is engineered stone banned?

Yes. Since 1 July 2024, manufacturing, supplying, processing and installing engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs has been prohibited in every state and territory, and importing them has been prohibited since 1 January 2025. Removing, repairing, minor modifications to installed stone and disposal are still allowed under strict controls.

What counts as engineered stone?

An artificial product with 1% or more crystalline silica, made by combining natural stone materials with resins, water or pigments that hardens. Concrete and cement products, bricks and pavers, ceramic tiles, grout and mortar, plasterboard, porcelain, sintered stone and roof tiles are excluded.

What is the exposure standard for silica?

0.05 mg/m³ of respirable crystalline silica averaged over an 8-hour day. Workers must not be exposed above it.

What if I can’t tell whether the work is high risk?

Under the WHS Regulations, processing you can’t classify is treated as high risk until you show it isn’t. That means a silica risk control plan, accredited training, air monitoring and health monitoring.

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Workfloor answers pay, award, leave and termination questions for your team, with the Fair Work Act section or award clause behind each answer.

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