Crystalline silica is a naturally occurring mineral found in engineered stone, concrete, brickwork, ceramic tiles and sand. When these materials are cut, ground, drilled or demolished, they generate airborne dust that is invisible to the naked eye.
Inhaling these dust particles causes silicosis: a progressive, irreversible lung disease that scars lung tissue over time and can be fatal, and has no cure. It also contributed to lung cancer. According to Safe Work Australia, the Workplace Exposure Standard (WES) for respirable crystalline silica is 0.05 mg/m³ as an eight-hour time-weighted average, a threshold that common trade activities can exceed quickly without appropriate controls in place.
Silicosis cases in Australia have risen significantly in recent years, particularly among engineered stone fabricators and benchtop installers. In response, the Australian Government introduced an engineered stone ban effective 1 July 2024, a clear signal of how seriously this hazard is now treated at a national level.
Engineered stone products installed prior to that date, known as legacy engineered stone, may still be repaired, removed or disposed of under controlled conditions, but this work must be notified to the WHS regulator and carried out in strict compliance with the WHS Regulations.
Silica dust decontamination is a structured, controlled process for removing silica-containing materials from a site in a way that protects workers, building occupants and the surrounding environment. It involves a defined sequence of steps: containment of the affected area, wet suppression, HEPA vacuum extraction, thorough surface wipe-down, air monitoring and a final clearance assessment.
Standard vacuums won’t cut it. They recirculate contaminated air. Dry sweeping and compressed air blowers are explicitly non-compliant as they drive settled dust airborne, increasing exposure risk.
Compliant removal requires:
Exposure risk extends beyond the original workers. The Code distinguishes between:
Decontamination obligations can apply even if your workers didn’t generate the dust in the first place.
All work is carried out by trained personnel wearing P2/P3 respirators and full personal protective equipment in accordance with the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (QLD). Every project follows a documented process from first assessment through to written clearance.
We begin with a thorough site assessment to understand the extent of contamination and identify the controls needed. This includes silica dust monitoring through air monitoring and personal silica exposure monitoring where required, giving us baseline data that informs our methodology and supports the final clearance assessment.
The affected area is sealed off to prevent the spread of contaminated dust to clean zones. Access is restricted to authorised personnel, and entry and exit points are managed to avoid cross-contamination throughout the decontamination process.
Wet suppression is applied to settle and bind particles before removal begins. Silica dust extraction is then carried out using industrial-grade HEPA vacuum equipment rated to capture particles down to 0.3 microns, the only mechanical method appropriate for respirable silica contamination.
All surfaces within the contained area are systematically wiped down to remove residual contamination. Silica dust disposal is managed in full compliance with QLD EPA requirements, with all contaminated waste collected, packaged and transported to a licensed facility. Documentation is provided throughout.
Once decontamination is complete, clearance air monitoring confirms that particle levels are within acceptable limits. A written clearance report is then issued, providing documented evidence that the work has been completed to the required standard.
HMG works across a broad range of site types throughout South East Queensland.
Where engineered stone or legacy engineered stone has been fabricated, installed or removed, settled contamination across surfaces and equipment needs to be addressed systematically — particularly where dust controls were not in place during the original work.
Concrete cutting, grinding or drilling in enclosed and semi-enclosed spaces requires thorough decontamination before other trades or occupants return. Our team is experienced in working within construction site safety management systems and can manage decontamination with minimal disruption to the broader programme.
Masonry, brickwork and tiled structures can generate significant volumes of silica-contaminated dust. Post-demolition decontamination is an important step before subsequent trades or occupants access the site.
Facilities processing containing crystalline silica materials may require periodic decontamination as part of their ongoing WHS obligations. HMG can work with facility managers to schedule this around operations, minimising downtime while maintaining compliance.
HMG carries $20 million public liability insurance and professional indemnity cover.
Our team has managed hazardous materials across residential, commercial and industrial sites in Brisbane for more than two decades.
All work is carried out under a Silica Risk Control Plan or SWMS covering all required control measures, in line with Queensland WHS legislation. We don’t take shortcuts when it comes to health risks.
Every decontamination project is completed with formal documentation that you can use to demonstrate compliance to regulators, insurers or building owners.
Safe Work Australia sets the Workplace Exposure Standard at 0.05 mg/m³ as an eight-hour time-weighted average. Many common trade activities can exceed this rapidly without adequate controls, which is why air monitoring is the only reliable way to assess actual exposure on a site. From 1 December 2026, this standard will be referred to as a Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL) under updated national terminology.
Respirable silica particles are fine enough to bypass the nose and throat and penetrate deep into lung tissue, where they cause permanent scarring. They are invisible to the naked eye, can remain airborne for long periods after work has finished, and cannot be detected without air monitoring equipment.
No. Under Safe Work Australia’s Code of Practice, cleanup activities involving silica-contaminated dust are themselves classified as processing of a crystalline silica substance and are subject to WHS obligations. Standard vacuums and dry sweeping are explicitly non-compliant methods. Silica decontamination requires H-class HEPA extraction equipment, wet suppression and trained personnel working under proper containment and PPE controls.
It depends on the size of the affected area and the degree of contamination. A single-room workspace may be completed within a day; larger sites will take longer. HMG provides a clear timeframe following the initial site assessment.
Yes. Clearance air monitoring is a standard part of every compliant decontamination, confirming the area is safe for re-entry and providing the documentation needed to demonstrate the work has been done properly. Where monitoring results show the WES has been exceeded at any point, this must be reported to the WHS regulator within 14 days.
Queensland employers have obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 to manage crystalline silica risks and reduce exposure. Where contamination has occurred, or following a WHSQ inspection notice, formal decontamination and clearance may be required to meet those obligations.
Employers are also required to provide health monitoring for workers who are, or are likely to be, exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the exposure standard. This includes baseline assessments, periodic monitoring during ongoing exposure, and exit monitoring when a worker’s exposure ceases. Health monitoring records must be kept for 40 years.
It is also worth noting that secondary exposure, affecting workers who weren’t directly involved in the dust-generating work, falls under the same obligations, so the duty to act is broader than many employers realise.
