Silica Training

Silica Training Course for Safer Workplaces

This course helps workers and supervisors understand the health risks of respirable crystalline silica (RCS), comply with workplace safety laws, and take action to reduce exposure.

Designed specifically for professionals in the construction, manufacturing and mining industries, this course focuses on effectively managing silica exposure within the workplace.

1. Introduction to Silica

   • Definition and Types: Overview of crystalline and non-crystalline silica, including common forms like quartz, cristobalite, and tridymite.
   • Sources and Uses: Common materials and processes that involve silica, such as construction, mining, and manufacturing.

2. Health Risks Associated with Silica Exposure

   • Health Effects: Detailed discussion of the health impacts of inhaling respirable crystalline silica, including silicosis, lung cancer, and COPD.
   • Symptoms and Diagnosis: Identifying symptoms of silica-related health conditions and understanding diagnostic procedures.

3. Regulatory Requirements and Standards

   • Legal Framework: Overview of OSHA regulations, exposure limits, and industry standards related to silica.
   • Compliance Obligations: Responsibilities of employers to manage silica exposure and ensure a safe working environment.

4. Risk Assessment and Control Measures

   • Risk Identification: How to assess and identify potential sources of silica exposure in the workplace.
   • Control Strategies: Implementation of engineering controls, work practices, and personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize exposure.

5. Safe Work Practices

   • Work Procedures: Best practices for handling silica-containing materials, including wet methods, local exhaust ventilation, and proper use of PPE.
   • Housekeeping and Maintenance: Effective cleaning methods and maintenance practices to reduce silica dust accumulation.

6. Emergency Procedures

   • Incident Management: Steps to take in the event of an exposure incident or emergency involving silica.
   • Health Surveillance: Procedures for monitoring and assessing health impacts related to silica exposure.

7. Training and Awareness Programs

   • Employee Training: Importance of ongoing training for employees regarding silica safety and exposure risks.
   • Maintaining Awareness: Strategies to keep workers informed about silica hazards and safe work practices.

8. Practical Exercises and Case Studies

   • Hands-On Activities: Practical exercises for identifying and managing silica risks.
   • Case Studies: Real-world examples and scenarios to illustrate common challenges and solutions in silica management.

Why not combine a Silica training session with fit testing for your workers? We come to your location, saving you time and ensuring your team meets compliance requirements in one streamlined visit.

Silica Fit Testing: Why Training Alone Isn’t Enough

Completing silica awareness training gives workers important information about the risks associated with respirable crystalline silica (RCS), but training is only one part of a respiratory protection programme. Where workers are required to use tight-fitting respiratory protective equipment (RPE), silica fit testing helps confirm that the selected respirator forms an effective seal against the wearer’s face.

At Fit Test Clinic, we provide respirator fit testing and silica training for workplaces. During a fit test, a trained tester assesses the fit of the respirator on each individual and confirms whether the selected respirator provides an appropriate seal. Fit testing is important because even a suitable respirator may not provide its intended level of protection if it does not fit the individual wearer correctly. Safe Work Australia guidance states that tight-fitting RPE must be successfully fit tested before use, with further testing at least annually and whenever changes may affect the facial seal.

Fit Test Clinic provides testing at its Melbourne and Sydney locations, as well as mobile group testing at workplaces. The company offers flexible scheduling for businesses that need to arrange testing around their operations.

Sundstrom Respirators for Silica and Asbestos Applications

Fit testing needs to be carried out using the respirator the worker is expected to wear. Fit Test Clinic supplies a Sundstrom Asbestos & Silica Kit SR100, which is designed for dust protection and includes a Sundstrom SR100 half-face respirator, SR510 P3 R particle filter, pre-filters and related components. The product is listed as tested to and compliant with AS/NZS 1716:2012.

The kit is marketed by Fit Test Clinic for applications including demolition, dry cutting, grinding and other hazardous dust environments. The appropriate RPE still depends on the specific task, contaminant, exposure level and required protection factor.

The correct RPE depends on the task, material, exposure risk and applicable workplace requirements. Fit Test Clinic can help businesses identify suitable respiratory protection and test the selected respirator on individual workers.