New WorKSafe Victoria Compliance Code - Managing exposure to crystalline silica: Engineered Stone

The Compliance code (the code) Managing exposure to crystalline silica: Engineered stone is a brand new code which came into effect on Tuesday 11th February 2020. It is the 17th code for occupational health and safety (OHS) matters issued by WorkSafe Victoria. It is designed to provide practical guidance on how to comply with relevant requirements under OHS Act 2004 and OHS Regulations 2017. It has also been designed to be easily read and used as well as to reflect current safe work practices and state of knowledge.

The key features of the code are as follows:

• Provision of general guidance on how to control the risk of exposure to respirable crystalline silica as a result of working with engineered stone.
• Inclusion of information on who has duties to manage risks associated with exposure to respirable crystalline and details what those duties are for:

                  o Employers;

                  o self-employed persons;

                  o persons with management or control of a workplace;

                  o manufacturers;

                  o suppliers; and

                  o employees.

Topics covered by the code are as follows:

• what crystalline silica is;
• the health risks of working with engineered stone;
• which duties apply to working with engineered stone;
• duties for manufacturers, importing suppliers and suppliers of engineered stone;
• the respirable crystalline silica exposure standard;
• air monitoring requirements;
• the prohibition on the uncontrolled dry cutting of engineered stone;
• how to control the risk of exposure to respirable crystalline silica;
• respiratory protective equipment;
• clean up and decontamination; and
• when health monitoring is required and what it involves.

The code is 54 pages in length and also contains appendices that provide helpful information including:

• the compliance framework;
• references;
• common silica-containing products; and
• a sample Hazardous substance health monitoring report.

Further information

More information on the Managing exposure to crystalline silica: Engineered stone compliance code are available on the WorkSafe website, worksafe.vic.gov.au, or by contacting the WorkSafe Advisory Service on 1800 136 089 from 7:30am to 6:30pm, Monday to Friday. The code can be downloaded from here

https://content.api.worksafe.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-02/ISBN-Compliance-code-managing-exposure-crystalline-silica-2020-02.pdf

Photo - Copyright WorkSafe Victoria. This is showing engineered stone being safely cut with a power tool that has an integrated water delivery system that supplies a continuous feed of water.