The new Code is Australia’s first silica dust code of practice for the construction industry and has commenced in Queensland on 1 May 2023. It applies to all construction work as well as the manufacturing of materials such as bricks, blocks, tiles, mortar and concrete.
To ensure you are up to date with the information you need, make sure you have done the following:
1. Go to Appendix 4 of the code and identify the equipment/task being performed. Example: stationary masonry saws (e.g., tile saws, brick saws)
2. Identify the engineering and work practice control method. This may determine if respiratory protective equipment (RPE) is required and therefore health monitoring.
3. Determine if the task being performed is for less than or greater than 4 hours.
4. Determine if the task is being performed indoors or outdoors and if RPE is required.
5. If RPE is required, PCBU to record the days worker wears RPE using the Appendix 5 Record of tasks for health monitoring trigger or other suitable recording method.
6. If worker is performing a task requiring RPE for 30+ days in 12 months PCBU to provide health monitoring. Refer to Section 10 of the code for health monitoring requirements.
7. Ensure you have your tasks, hazards, risks and controls are documented in your Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS).
PCBUs must adopt a risk management process, including eliminating exposure to RCS, so far as is reasonably practicable, or if it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate exposure to RCS, by minimising it so far as is reasonably practicable.
To meet their health and safety obligations, PCBUs need to:
The Code outlines two methods for choosing the right controls:
Resources: Master Builders Qld, HIA Qld and Work Safe QLD
