Hazardous Substances

Silica dust basic

Silica is found in sand, stone, concrete and mortar. It is also used in the manufacture of a variety of products including composite stone used to fabricate kitchen and bathroom benchtops, bricks, tiles and some plastics.

When workers cut, crush, drill, polish, saw or grind products that contain silica, very small dust particles (not necessarily visible to the eye) are generated that are small enough to lodge deep in the lungs and can cause illness or disease including silicosis.

These very small dust particles are referred to as respirable crystalline silica (RCS).