Authorities want to help with changes to the workplace exposure standard for silica dust.

The workplace exposure standard (WES) for respirable crystalline silica (silica dust) has recently halved.

Safe Work Australia says anyone who works with materials like engineered stone, concrete or tiles, should use its new silica checklist to see if they need to implement additional control measures so that the WES is not exceeded.

Safe Work Australia has published information, including a checklist, to help persons conducting a business or undertaking (for example, an employer or small business owner) to understand the changes to the WES for silica dust, and to assess and effectively manage the risks of silica dust in their workplace.

The WES for silica dust has halved from an eight-hour time weighted average of 0.1 mg/m3 to 0.05 mg/m3. The reduced silica dust WES was implemented in most jurisdictions from 1 July 2020.

More information on the changes to the WES for silica dust are accessible here.