Occupations and tasks that can lead to silica exposure

The occupations with the greatest risk of exposure to silica dust include:

  • miners
  • construction workers (both commercial and residential)
  • farmers, and
  • engineers.

There may be a risk of exposure to silica dust for workers who:

  • use power tools to cut or modify engineered stone, for example fabricating and installing kitchen benchtops
  • blast, excavate or tunnel into sandstone, clay or granite
  • drill, cut or chase into concrete and brickwork
  • cut bricks, pavers or tiles
  • angle grind on concrete or masonry
  • jackhammer, scabble or chisel concrete
  • clean up the dust and debris created by the above activities, including dried concrete slurry
  • dismantle equipment or disposes of offcuts covered in dust, or
  • demolish buildings.

In the ACT there is mandatory training for those who work with crystalline silica materials.

Work Health and Safety (Crystalline Silica Awareness Training Course and Occupations) Declaration 2023 (the declaration) commenced in July 2022. Under this law, all workers in the specified occupations and those who are reasonably expected to be exposed to airborne silica dust as part of their work must complete 10830NAT – Course in Crystalline Silica Exposure Prevention before 1 October 2023.

You can find training providers at training.gov.au - 10830NAT - Course in Crystalline Silica Exposure Prevention.

Table of specified occupations

ANZSCO

occupation code number


ANZSCO occupation title

334112

Air-conditioning and Mechanical Services Plumber

342111

Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic

232111

Architect

721212

Backhoe Operator

331111

Bricklayer

821111

Builder’s Labourer

312112

Building Associate

312113

Building Inspector

821411

Building Insulation Installer

721213

Bulldozer Operator

342411

Cabler (Data and Telecommunication)

331212

Carpenter

331211

Carpenter and Joiner

233211

Civil Engineer

312212

Civil Engineering Technician

711199

Clay, Concrete, Glass and Stone Processing Machine Operators nec

711111

Clay Products Machine Operator

811211

Commercial Cleaner

711112

Concrete Products Machine Operator

821211

Concreter

133111

Construction Project Manager

821711

Construction Rigger

821112

Drainage, Sewerage and Stormwater Labourer

334113

Drainer

821113

Earthmoving Labourer

721211

Earthmoving Plant Operator (General)

233311

Electrical Engineer

312312

Electrical Engineering Technician

899914

Electrical or Telecommunications Trades Assistant

341111

Electrician (General)

341112

Electrician (Special Class)

233411

Electronics Engineer

133211

Engineering Manager

721214

Excavator Operator

821311

Fencer

333211

Fibrous Plasterer

332111

Floor Finisher

334114

Gasfitter

233212

Geotechnical Engineer

333111

Glazier

899311

Handyperson

821412

Home Improvement Installer

399912

Interior Decorator

331213

Joiner

821913

Lagger

232112

Landscape Architect

341113

Lift Mechanic

721216

Loader Operator

323313

Locksmith

312512

Mechanical Engineering Technician

332211

Painting Trades Worker

841913

Pest Controller

334111

Plumber (General)

821114

Plumber’s Assistant

312115

Plumbing Inspector

133112

Project Builder

334115

Roof Plumber

333311

Roof Tiler

312611

Safety Inspector

821712

Scaffolder

899918

Sign Erector

333212

Solid Plasterer

821713

Steel Fixer

331112

Stonemason

711114

Stone Processing Machine Operator

233214

Structural Engineer

821714

Structural Steel Erector

342414

Telecommunications Technician

333411

Wall and Floor Tiler

322313

Welder (First Class)

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