Last reviewed: October 2026
Why it matters
Respirable crystalline silica dust is generated by drilling, blasting, crushing, cutting and earthmoving. Long-term exposure can cause serious lung disease, including silicosis. WorkSafe WA states the workplace exposure standard for RCS is an eight-hour time-weighted average of 0.05 mg/m³.
Who needs health monitoring?
Employers must arrange — and pay for — health monitoring where workers' exposure to silica dust poses a risk to their health. WorkSafe WA's guidance groups workers into two categories: engineered stone fabrication (Category A), and miscellaneous industries including construction, quarrying and mining (Category B).
What it involves
- work and medical history
- lung and rheumatological examination
- lung function testing (spirometry)
- low-dose high-resolution CT (HRCT) chest imaging where required
How often — mining, construction and quarrying (Category B)
- health monitoring and spirometry every year
- low-dose HRCT every 5 years for workers with 5 or more years of exposure
Engineered stone workers (Category A) have more frequent HRCT requirements.
Who does it
Health monitoring must be carried out or supervised by a registered medical practitioner engaged by the employer, with relevant experience.
Records and reporting
- Keep health monitoring records confidential and for at least 30 years.
- Where air monitoring of high-risk processes is required, keep those records for 30 years, and report results above the exposure standard to WorkSafe as required.
- Report health monitoring results to WorkSafe WA using its notification process.
Practical tips
- Start with exposure: dust monitoring tells you who needs to be in the program and whether controls are working.
- Keep one register of workers, due dates and results so nobody falls overdue.
- Act on results — a change in lung function should trigger a review of controls, not just a file note.
Need a silica program set up? See Health monitoring and exposure management or talk to Chris.
Official sources
- WorkSafe WA — Health monitoring: silica (respirable crystalline)
- WorkSafe WA — WHS duties for businesses who work with crystalline silica substances
- WorkSafe WA — Health monitoring duties for PCBUs
This guide is general information about Western Australian requirements as published by WorkSafe WA at the time of review. It is not legal advice. Always check the current legislation, codes of practice and guidance for your circumstances.