Exposure Control Airborne Respirable Silica

Department Of Labour Notice No 66 Of 5 February 2010

Occupational Health And Safety Act Of 1993

The Occupational Exposure Control Limit For Airborne Respirable Silica Reduced To 0.1mg/Cubic M.

The Minister of Labour on 27 June 2008 published Government Notice No. R 683 amending the Occupational Exposure Control Limit for Silica in Table 1 of the Hazardous Chemical Substances Regulations from 0,4mg/cubic m to 0,1mg/cubic m.
All enterprises involved in operations with the handling, manufacturing, and producing products that may cause exposure to silica dust are required to submit bi-annual reports indicating the following:

• Number of samples taken and analysed
• Composition of dust
• Concentration of the constituents; and
• Whether enterprises are complying with the current Occupational Exposure Limit for silica, and if not, what steps are implemented to comply with the exposure limit?

There are operations in construction involving exposure to respirable silica dust and the Department of Labour requires input to determine the levels of compliance.

Enterprises are accordingly required to forward data to the Head Office of the Labour Department on 31 July and 31 January every year.

To assist enterprises in this regard the Department of Labour has produced a Silica Dust Data Collection Guiding Document when reporting the required information.

Neels Nortjé | HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEr