What is the workplace exposure standard for respirable crystalline silica?

Safe Work Australia has set the workplace exposure standard (WES) for respirable crystalline silica (RCS) at 0.05 mg/m3 as an 8-hour time-weighted average. This standard applies to all Australian workplaces and is enforced under the WHS Regulations 2011. Some states have adopted or are transitioning to even lower limits. Industries working with engineered stone, concrete, sandstone and glass are particularly affected and must implement dust controls and monitoring programmes to stay below this limit.

How often should dust monitoring be conducted?

Monitoring frequency depends on the risk level. High-risk activities such as cutting engineered stone, concrete grinding and mining should be monitored at least quarterly. Moderate-risk environments should be monitored six-monthly. Baseline monitoring is required for new processes or materials. Re-monitoring should occur after any change to controls, work practices or substances. EPA licence conditions may specify boundary monitoring frequencies. Continuous real-time dust monitoring is increasingly adopted for high-risk sites.

What types of dust monitors are used?

Common dust monitors include personal sampling pumps with filter cassettes (for gravimetric analysis of respirable dust and crystalline silica), real-time aerosol monitors such as the TSI DustTrak (for immediate PM readings), and high-volume air samplers (for ambient PM10 and PM2.5 at site boundaries). Personal samplers measure breathing zone exposure for individual workers. Area monitors measure ambient dust levels at fixed locations. Laboratory analysis of filter cassettes provides the most accurate results for regulatory compliance.

What actions should be taken if dust levels exceed the WES?

If dust levels exceed the workplace exposure standard, immediate actions include: increasing dust suppression measures (water spray, wet cutting), improving local exhaust ventilation, providing upgraded respiratory protective equipment (RPE) to affected workers, restricting access to the area and notifying workers of the exceedance. The root cause should be investigated and permanent controls implemented. Re-monitoring should be conducted to verify the corrective actions have reduced exposure below the WES. The exceedance and actions taken must be documented.

Who is qualified to conduct dust monitoring?

Occupational dust monitoring should be conducted by a competent person trained in sampling methodology, typically a qualified occupational hygienist or technician working under their supervision. Gravimetric samples for respirable crystalline silica must be analysed by a NATA-accredited laboratory using methods aligned with AS 2985:2009 (respirable dust) and AS 3640:2009 (inhalable dust). Real-time monitoring can be conducted by trained site personnel, but the monitoring programme design, interpretation of results and reporting to satisfy WHS Regulations 2011 Part 7.1 obligations should rest with a certified occupational hygienist (AIOH membership is common in Australia).

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Free dust monitoring record (PDF-ready). Log PM10, PM2.5 and respirable dust readings for WES compliance and WHS reporting. Digitise with MapTrack.

Jarrod Milford

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Updated 2 May 2026

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Updated 2 May 2026

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What is a dust monitoring record?

A dust monitoring record is a log used to document airborne dust measurements taken at workplace locations to assess worker exposure and environmental compliance. The record captures the monitoring date, location, dust type (total inhalable, respirable, PM10, PM2.5), sampling method, measurement result, the applicable workplace exposure standard (WES) and whether the reading is within the permissible limit. It provides a continuous record of dust conditions that supports occupational health surveillance and environmental licence compliance.

Dust exposure is a significant health hazard in mining, construction, manufacturing, agriculture and demolition. Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure can cause silicosis, a progressive and incurable lung disease. Safe Work Australia publishes workplace exposure standards (WES) that set maximum airborne concentrations for various dust types, including a WES of 0.05 mg/m3 for respirable crystalline silica. The WHS Regulations 2011, Part 7.1 requires PCBUs to ensure exposure to airborne contaminants does not exceed the WES. Failing to monitor and document dust levels means the PCBU cannot demonstrate compliance, and workers may be exposed to harmful concentrations without detection.

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Benefits of using this dust monitoring record

Worker health protection: tracks dust exposure against workplace exposure standards to identify areas or tasks exceeding safe limits.
Regulatory compliance: provides documented evidence of dust monitoring as required by WHS Regulations 2011, Part 7.1.
Trend analysis: comparing readings over time identifies deteriorating conditions, seasonal patterns or process changes increasing dust.
Control effectiveness: post-control monitoring confirms that dust suppression or ventilation measures are achieving the required reduction.
Silicosis prevention: regular monitoring of respirable crystalline silica levels is critical for industries processing engineered stone, concrete and sandstone.
Environmental compliance: dust monitoring at site boundaries demonstrates compliance with EPA particulate matter licence conditions.

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What to include in a dust monitoring record

This dust monitoring record covers 10 key areas:

Site details: site name, location, monitoring programme reference, responsible person.
Monitoring event: date, time start and end, weather conditions (wind speed, direction, temperature, humidity).
Monitoring location: GPS coordinates or site plan reference, monitoring height, distance from source.
Equipment: dust monitor type (personal sampler, real-time DustTrak, gravimetric, high-volume sampler), equipment ID, calibration date.
Dust type measured: total inhalable dust, respirable dust, respirable crystalline silica, PM10, PM2.5.
Measurement result: concentration in mg/m3 or ug/m3, sample volume, filter weight (gravimetric method).
Workplace exposure standard: applicable WES for the dust type, result compared to WES (below/at/above).
Controls in place: dust suppression, ventilation, enclosure, RPE (respiratory protective equipment) in use.
Exceedance actions: if WES exceeded, immediate actions taken, workers notified, additional controls implemented.
Sign-off: monitoring officer name and qualifications, date, next monitoring event scheduled.

How to use this dust monitoring record

Plan the monitoring event and calibrate equipment: Identify the monitoring locations and dust types to be measured based on the monitoring programme. Calibrate the dust monitoring equipment according to the manufacturer instructions and record the calibration date and result. Check weather conditions, as wind speed and direction significantly affect dust readings.
Deploy monitoring equipment at the designated locations: Set up personal samplers on workers performing the highest-risk tasks (breathing zone sampling) or position area monitors at locations specified in the monitoring plan. Record the start time, location coordinates and the type of dust being measured.
Collect samples over the required monitoring period: For personal exposure monitoring, samples are typically collected over the full shift duration (8 hours) to calculate a time-weighted average (TWA). For area monitoring, the sampling period depends on the purpose (short-term task monitoring or continuous ambient monitoring). Record the sample volume and flow rate.
Retrieve samples and record results: At the end of the monitoring period, retrieve personal samplers and area monitors. For gravimetric methods, send filter cassettes to a NATA-accredited laboratory for analysis. For real-time instruments, download the data log. Record all results on the monitoring record and compare each reading to the applicable workplace exposure standard.
Assess results, take action on exceedances and file the record: If any reading exceeds the WES, take immediate corrective action: increase dust suppression, improve ventilation, provide upgraded RPE and notify affected workers. Record the corrective actions on the monitoring record. File the completed record in the occupational hygiene register and schedule the next monitoring event.

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How often should you complete this log / register?

Dust monitoring frequency depends on the workplace risk level and regulatory requirements. High-risk activities (cutting engineered stone, concrete grinding, sandblasting, mining) should be monitored at least quarterly, with continuous real-time monitoring where available. Moderate-risk environments should be monitored six-monthly. Baseline monitoring should be conducted when a new process or material is introduced. Re-monitoring is required after control measures are changed to verify effectiveness. EPA licence conditions may specify monitoring frequencies for site boundary dust levels. Safe Work Australia recommends that exposure monitoring be repeated whenever there is a change in work practices, plant or substances.

Frequently asked questions

Applicable regulatory standards

This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:

WHS Regulations 2011, Part 7.1 - Exposure to airborne contaminants
Safe Work Australia - Workplace Exposure Standards for Airborne Contaminants

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