− undertaking air monitoring at the workplace − inspecting workplace surfaces for build-up of settled dust , and − reading product labels , safety data sheets and manufacturers ’ instruction manuals .
A risk assessment involves considering what could happen if a worker is exposed to a hazard and the likelihood of it happening .
Hazards have the potential to cause different types and severities of harm , ranging from minor discomfort to a serious injury , illness , disease or death . Exposure to silica dust can adversely affect a worker ’ s health , including developing silicosis , progressive massive fibrosis , chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , chronic bronchitis and lung cancer .
Assessing the risks will help to :
− identify which workers are at risk of exposure to silica dust − determine what sources and processes are causing that risk − identify what kind of control measures should be implemented to control the risk − check the effectiveness of existing control measures to control the risk − determine the severity of the risk , and − determine how urgently action may need to be taken .
The nature and severity of risks will depend on various factors , including the :
− percentage of crystalline silica in the engineered stone o for example , some engineered stone can have over 90 per cent crystalline silica , while others may have a lower percentage − task being undertaken o for example , angle grinding can generate more silica dust than other tasks − equipment being used o for example , hand-held tools may generate more silica dust closer to the worker ’ s breathing zone than automated machinery
− conditions under which the work with engineered stone is carried out o for example , work undertaken in an isolation booth or in an open plan workshop , and − skills , competence and experience of the worker .
The potential of exposure of administrative workers to silica dust at fabrication workplaces should also be considered . These workers may be exposed if :
− − adequate controls are not implemented , and subsequent background levels of silica dust are high , or their roles mean they frequently access processing areas o for example , administrative workers that frequently walk through or perform tasks in areas near where the processing of engineered stone is undertaken may be exposed to high levels of silica dust .
A PCBU should review the information on the product labels , and any available safety data sheets , to assist in determining the type and severity of the harm . The following questions may help a PCBU to assess the risk :
− How much silica is in the products at the workplace ? − How often , and for how long , might a worker be exposed to silica dust ?
Managing the risks of respirable crystalline silica from engineered stone in the workplace - Code of Practice 28 of 57