Manufacturing
The hazardous dust crystalline silica is found in the air of factories manufacturing clay, concrete, glass and stone, and foundries where metal is cast forged and finished.

Construction
Workers in the construction industry, including bricklayers, road workers, stonemasons, concreters and pavers may be exposed to harmful silica dust when cutting, grinding, demolishing or even simply sweeping up on a building site.

Mining
Despite the vast improvements to workplace health and safety in the mining industry, miners are still being exposed to hazardous dusts. This includes all on-site workers, not just those digging underground. Also at risk are the drillers, shot- firers and earthmoving plant operators.

Stonecutters
The increased popularity of artificial or ‘engineered’ stone benchtops for kitchens and bathrooms – made using crushed silica rock – has exposed a new and large section of the workforce to dangerous dust. Artificial stone contains up to 95% crystalline silica. When the stone is cut, shaped or drilled it creates highly toxic, almost invisible dust particles – respirable crystalline silica. These dust particles can lodge in the deepest part of the lungs and cause the incurable lung disease silicosis.