Hon. Alison Xamon questions the Minister for Commerce regarding safety measures and monitoring regimes for respirable silica in sand mines and quarries. The Minister outlines existing regulations but notes the absence of specific prescribed measures.

AnsweredQoN 982Legislative Council
Asked
15 November 2012
Portfolio
Commerce

QuestionView source ↗

RESPIRABLE
SILICA
982. Hon ALISON XAMON to the Minister for Commerce:
I refer to respirable silica, such as may be generated at
sand mines and other quarries.
(1) What
safety measures regarding respirable silica should be in place to protect the
health and safety of workers in sand mines and other quarries?
(2) What
monitoring and measuring regime for respirable silica is recommended to ensure
that the levels of exposure to respirable silica remain within the Australian
levels?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for
some notice of this question.
(1) Crystalline
silica is classified as a hazardous substance in part 5 of the Occupational
Safety and Health Regulations. This part includes requirements that no person
is exposed to a hazardous substance in excess of the exposure standard for that
hazardous substance, and that as far as practicable, the risk to a person
arising from the exposure to a hazardous substance is reduced.
(2) Neither the
OSH act nor the OSH regulations prescribes particular measures or monitoring
regimes in relation to crystalline silica. Under the OSH act, employers have a
duty to provide safe systems of work.

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