Some products , such as commercially available flocculants , promote the clumping of particles , and will consolidate silica dust in recycled water more effectively . Water that is recycled needs to be visually assessed to ensure it is clear . If the water has a cloudy or milky appearance this means it is likely to contain a high concentration of silica dust and may increase the risk that airborne particles or contaminated mist will be released in the workplace .
For further information on the management of recycled water , please refer to guidelines in your state or territory .
Disposal of contaminated material
The PCBU must ensure that containers of waste produced or generated at a workplace from a hazardous substance , including silica dust , are labelled . The label needs to reflect the nature of the waste as closely as possible , for example the label should identify the substance as ‘ Silica dust hazard ’.
Waste contaminated by silica dust can include any disposable clothing or PPE , rags used to clean the work area or tools or equipment that cannot be decontaminated or are no longer required .
Bags used for containing waste need to be strong enough to ensure they will not tear and release dust . To minimise the risk of a bag tearing or splitting , bags should not be filled more than half-full and excess air gently evacuated from the bag in a way that does not cause the release of dust .
The PCBU should have a waste management system in place that eliminates the risk of silica dust being released and becoming airborne .
Managing the risks of respirable crystalline silica from engineered stone in the workplace - Code of Practice 49 of 57