Find out if this job crosses the silica dust limits — before it crosses your lungs.
For sole traders and small firms cutting, grinding, chasing or drilling silica, wood or MDF. Covers respirator selection and the controls the WHS rules require.
Hose, misting attachment, or water-fed blade
e.g. an H-class dust extractor attached to the tool
A paper / surgical mask provides NO protection against silica. Only a properly fit-tested P2 or P3 respirator counts.
What the law actually says
- •Respirable crystalline silica has a workplace exposure standard of 0.05 mg/m³ (8-hour TWA) in Australia — cutting concrete or stone dry can blow past it many times over.
- •Engineered stone is banned: its manufacture, supply and installation has been prohibited since 1 July 2024. High-risk silica work also brings air monitoring, health monitoring and (often) a silica risk control plan.
- •Guidance only, not legal advice — confirm with Safe Work Australia and your state's WHS regulator.