When a dust is created from something that contains crystalline silica, part of that dust will be respirable and able to be breathed in to the very lowest portion of our lungs. It is that portion which is termed respirable crystalline silica (commonly known as “silica dust”).

Many substances in the workplace contain crystalline silica. These include tiles, bricks, mortar, grout, concrete, sandstone and engineered stone for example.

Breathing in silica dust is known to cause many debilitating and incurable diseases including silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, chronic renal disease and lung cancer.

There are many practical ways to prevent and / or minimise exposure to silica dust, which in turn, will prevent silicosis and other silica-related diseases. Here are some that I’ve seen work in practice.