Australian Capital Territory Current Regulations

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY REGULATION 2011 - REG 418A

    (1)     In this chapter:

"airborne crystalline silica" means an airborne contaminant containing respirable crystalline silica.

"Class H vacuum" means a vacuum that complies with the requirements of Class H of AS/NZS 60335.2.69:2017 (Household and similar electrical appliances – Safety, Part 2.69: Particular requirements for wet and dry vacuum cleaners, including power brush, for commercial use), or requirements equivalent to the standard.

"Class M vacuum" means a vacuum that complies with the requirements of Class M of AS/NZS 60335.2.69:2017 (Household and similar electrical appliances – Safety, Part 2.69: Particular requirements for wet and dry vacuum cleaners, including power brush, for commercial use), or requirements equivalent to the standard.

Note     AS/NZS 60335.2.69.2017 does not need to be notified under the

because s 47 (5) does not apply (see s 15 and title="A2001-14">Legislation Act

, s 47 (7)). The standard may be purchased at www.standards.org.au

"crystalline silica"—

        (a)     means crystalline polymorphs of silica; and

        (b)     includes the following substances:

              (i)     cristobalite;

              (ii)     quartz;

              (iii)     tridymite;

              (iv)     tripoli.

"crystalline silica control measure"—each of the following control measures is a crystalline silica control measure in relation to the processing of engineered stone, stone-substitute material or other crystalline silica material:

        (a)     a water delivery system supplying a continuous feed of water over the processing area is used to suppress airborne crystalline silica produced by the processing;

        (b)     a wet dust suppression method;

        (c)     the attachment of a Class H vacuum to the tool used for processing;

        (d)     for other crystalline silica material containing less than 25% crystalline silica—the attachment of a Class M vacuum to the tool used for processing;

        (e)     the use of a local exhaust ventilation system;

        (f)     the isolation of the place where the processing occurs from other workers.

"crystalline silica material" means—

        (a)     engineered stone; or

        (b)     natural stone containing crystalline silica; or

        (c)     any of the following containing crystalline silica:

              (i)     a concrete or cement product;

              (ii)     a brick, paver or other similar block;

              (iii)     a ceramic wall or floor tile;

              (iv)     grout, mortar or render;

              (v)     plasterboard;

              (vi)     a porcelain product;

              (vii)     sintered stone;

              (viii)     a roof tile.

Note     An item mentioned in par (b) or par (c) containing crystalline silica and other materials may be engineered stone (see def engineered stone ).

"engineered stone"—

        (a)     means an artificial product that—

              (i)     contains 1% or more crystalline silica, determined as a weight/weight (w/w) concentration; and

              (ii)     is created by combining natural stone with other materials; and

Examples—other materials

pigment, resin, water

              (iii)     becomes hardened; but

        (b)     does not include any of the following:

              (i)     a concrete or cement product;

              (ii)     a brick, paver or other similar block;

              (iii)     a ceramic wall or floor tile;

              (iv)     grout, mortar or render;

              (v)     plasterboard;

              (vi)     a porcelain product;

              (vii)     sintered stone;

              (viii)     a roof tile.

"high risk crystalline silica work" means work carried out in a workplace in relation to a crystalline silica process that is reasonably likely to result in a risk to the health of a person at the workplace.

"mechanical method" does not include a method that involves plant or a tool that—

        (a)     relies exclusively on manual power for its operation; and

        (b)     is designed to be primarily supported by hand.

"porcelain product" does not include a porcelain product containing resin.

"process" includes crush, cut, drill, grind, polish, sand or trim.

"respiratory protective equipment" means personal protective equipment that—

        (a)     is designed to protect the wearer from inhaling airborne crystalline silica; and

        (b)     complies with—

              (i)     AS/NZS 1716:2012 (Respiratory protective devices); and

              (ii)     AS/NZS 1715:2009 (Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment).

Note     AS/NZS 1716:2012 and AS/NZS 1715:2009 do not need to be notified under the

because s 47 (5) does not apply (see s 15 and href="http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/a/2001-14" title="A2001-14">Legislation Act

, s 47 (7)). The standards may be purchased at www.standards.org.au

"sintered stone" does not include a sintered stone product containing resin.

"stone-substitute material" means—

        (a)     engineered stone; or

        (b)     either of the following containing crystalline silica:

              (i)     a porcelain product;

              (ii)     sintered stone.

"wet dust suppression method"—

        (a)     means a method of suppressing airborne crystalline silica that involves the use of water or other suitable liquid, or a wetting agent; and

        (b)     includes using a continuous feed of water, or an emulsion, spray, curtain, mist or foam of water or other suitable liquid over the place where airborne crystalline silica is produced.

    (2)     For subsection (1), definition of high risk crystalline silica work , a person may not rely upon a control measure required under this chapter when assessing if work is likely to result in a risk to the health of a person at the workplace.

    (3)     In this section:

crystalline silica process consists of 1 or more of the following processes carried out at a workplace:

        (a)     the use of a power tool or another mechanical method to—

              (i)     crush, drill, grind, polish, sand or trim material containing crystalline silica; or

              (ii)     carry out any other activity involving material containing crystalline silica that produces airborne crystalline silica;

        (b)     the use of a roadheader on an excavated face if the material in the face contains crystalline silica;

        (c)     a process that exposes a person to airborne crystalline silica arising from the manufacture or handling of material that contains crystalline silica;

        (d)     the mechanical screening of crushed material containing crystalline silica;

        (e)     a quarrying process involving material containing crystalline silica;

        (f)     a tunnelling process involving material containing crystalline silica;

        (g)     any other process prescribed by regulation.

"local exhaust ventilation system "means an engineering control that reduces worker exposure to airborne crystalline silica in the workplace by capturing the emission of airborne crystalline silica at the source and transporting it to a safe emission point, filter or scrubber.