Primary keyword: silica dust monitoring mining quarrying
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Meta title: Silica Dust Monitoring — Mining & Quarrying | OccHygiene
Meta description: Mining and quarrying operations face some of Australia’s highest crystalline silica exposures. Learn your monitoring obligations, dual regulatory framework, and how OccHygiene can help.
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Introduction
Mining and quarrying operations work directly with some of Australia’s most silica-rich geological materials — sandstone, granite, coal measures, quartz-bearing ore bodies, and rock formations that can contain crystalline silica concentrations well above those found in manufactured building products. Combined with the enclosed environments of underground mines, the dust loads generated by blasting, drilling, hauling, and crushing, and often long shift lengths, these industries have historically carried a disproportionate burden of silicosis and other dust-related lung diseases.
Australia’s occupational hygiene frameworks have evolved significantly to address this risk, with separate legislative instruments applying to mining versus other industries in many states. This guide covers the monitoring obligations, best practice approaches, and how OccHygiene supports mining and quarrying operators across Australia. For the full regulatory framework, see our silica dust monitoring guide for Australian employers.
Why Mining and Quarrying Carry the Highest Silica Risk
Several factors combine to make silica exposure particularly severe in mining and quarrying contexts:
Geology — Many Australian ore bodies and rock formations have very high quartz content. Silica concentrations in airborne dust from drill-and-blast operations or hard-rock crushing can be 30–80% crystalline silica by mass, compared to 10–30% in typical concrete.
Volume and duration — Mining operations generate massive quantities of airborne dust continuously, and workers often spend full 8–12 hour shifts in the environment.
Enclosed environments — Underground mine drives and headings have limited ventilation. diesel particulate matter from vehicles combines with silica in a confined space to create compound respiratory health effects of DPM hazards.
Historical exposure — Many workers in mining have accumulated decades of prior exposure, meaning even marginal ongoing exposures can push cumulative lifetime dose into disease-causing territory.
Shift work and fatigue — Extended shifts and compressed rosters mean workers may have less time for respiratory symptoms to be noticed and investigated.
The Dual Regulatory Framework for Mining
Unlike most industries, where silica monitoring falls under the WHS Act and Chapter 8A of the WHS Regulations, mining operations often face a dual regulatory framework:
In Queensland, coal mines and other prescribed mines are regulated under the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 and the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999, overseen by the Mines Inspectorate under Resources Safety & Health Queensland (RSHQ). WHS Queensland covers surface facilities associated with mines. The RSHQ’s Coal Mine Dust Guideline (QGL02) sets detailed sampling and assessment requirements.
In Western Australia, mining is regulated under the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994, with the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) as the primary regulator. Note: WA has not adopted the national model WHS laws.
In New South Wales, mining is regulated under the Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Act 2013 and associated regulations, with the NSW Resources Regulator as the responsible authority.
In all other states and territories, WHS Chapter 8A generally applies to mining operations, though state regulators may have additional guidance instruments.
The result is that mining operators must understand both the national crystalline silica framework (Chapter 8A) and the state-specific mining regulations that apply to their site.
Monitoring Requirements for Mining and Quarrying
Personal Exposure Monitoring
Personal air sampling is the primary method for assessing worker exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) in mining and quarrying. Monitoring requirements include:
- Baseline monitoring — Conducted when a new task, workface, or processing configuration is introduced, or when regulatory compliance must be demonstrated
- Periodic monitoring — At regular intervals (typically 6–12 months) for workers in high-exposure roles or when prior results have shown elevated concentrations
- Trigger monitoring — When a worker’s health surveillance result shows early signs of silica-related disease, more frequent monitoring is required to investigate exposure levels
- Change monitoring — When ventilation systems are modified, new equipment is introduced, blasting schedules change, or geology changes
The workers most likely to receive the highest exposures — and therefore who must be prioritised for monitoring — in a typical mining or quarrying operation are:
- Drill and blast operators
- Tunnel boring machine (TBM) operators and support crew
- Crushing and screening plant operators
- Underground development miners
- Load and haul operators (particularly in underground settings)
Area and Static Monitoring
In addition to personal sampling, area monitoring — fixed-location samplers that measure dust concentration in a zone — can be used to:
– Assess the effectiveness of ventilation and dust suppression systems
– Identify which parts of a mine or quarry are highest-risk
– Detect dust migration from one zone to another
Area monitoring does not substitute for personal sampling but provides valuable contextual data.
Key Control Measures in Mining and Quarrying
Monitoring results inform control selection. The hierarchy of controls applies in mining just as in any other industry:
For workplaces with diesel-powered equipment, understanding DPM control measures is an essential part of WHS compliance.
Drilling with water injection or vacuum extraction — Wet drilling suppresses dust at the point of generation for blast-hole and exploration drilling. Where water use is not practical, on-drill vacuum extraction with HEPA filtration is the alternative.
Ventilation — primary control for underground mines — Forced ventilation of underground drives and headings is the foundational engineering control for all airborne hazards in underground mining. Monitoring helps verify that ventilation systems are delivering the designed dilution.
Wet suppression at crushing and screening — Water spray systems on jaw crushers, cone crushers, screens, and conveyor transfer points dramatically reduce airborne dust from these high-generation sources.
Remote and automated operation — Where feasible, remote-controlled drilling rigs or automated load and haul equipment removes operators from the highest-exposure zones.
Enclosed cabs with HEPA filtration — Pressurised, air-conditioned cabs for haul trucks, excavators, and other mobile equipment provide effective protection when correctly maintained and sealed.
Health surveillance integration — All workers performing crystalline silica work must be enrolled in a health surveillance program. Monitoring results should be provided to the examining physician as part of each health surveillance assessment.
OccHygiene Mining and Quarrying Services
OccHygiene provides silica dust monitoring and occupational hygiene services for surface and underground mining operations across Australia.
Our services for the mining and quarrying sector include:
- Baseline and periodic RCS monitoring — Full-shift personal sampling with NATA-accredited laboratory analysis
- Ventilation effectiveness assessment — Evaluating whether existing ventilation delivers adequate dilution
- Compliance audits — Assessing alignment with Chapter 8A (and state mining regulations where applicable)
- Monitoring program design — Helping operators develop an ongoing monitoring schedule that meets regulatory requirements and reflects actual risk
- Written reports suitable for regulator submission — Our reports meet the format requirements of both WHS regulators and state mining regulators
We work with open-cut and underground mining operations, quarries, sand processing facilities, and associated surface infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does WHS Chapter 8A apply to my mine?
It depends on your state and the type of mining. In Queensland and New South Wales, dedicated mining legislation takes precedence over WHS Chapter 8A for most operational mining activities. In other states, Chapter 8A applies. Your state mining regulator can confirm which legislation governs your operation.
How often do I need to monitor in mining?
There is no single mandatory frequency prescribed for all mining operations. Chapter 8A requires monitoring “as often as is necessary” given the risk. In practice, most high-risk roles (drillers, development miners, crusher operators) are sampled at least annually. Workers with prior elevated results may require 6-monthly monitoring.
What is the WES for crystalline silica?
The current workplace exposure standard for DPM (WES) is 0.05 mg/m³ as a time-weighted average over an 8-hour shift. This is an absolute ceiling — not a target. Employers must reduce exposure to as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP) below this level. Note that a review is currently underway that may reduce the WES to 0.025 mg/m³ from the WEL transition in December 2026.
What happens after an exceedance in a mine?
Exceeding the WES triggers immediate investigation. Controls must be reviewed and strengthened. Under WHS Chapter 8A, the relevant regulator must be notified within 14 days. The affected worker must be referred for additional health surveillance. Queensland’s RSHQ has specific incident notification requirements for mine sites.
Can our internal hygienist do the monitoring?
Yes, if they have the relevant competency and access to NATA-accredited laboratory services. Many larger mining companies have in-house hygiene capability. Smaller operations typically contract an external provider like OccHygiene for independence and access to NATA-accredited analysis.
Summary
Mining and quarrying operations carry some of the highest crystalline silica exposure risks in Australia, and the regulatory framework — whether Chapter 8A, Queensland’s mining acts, or NSW’s mines legislation — places clear obligations on operators to monitor, control, and document worker exposure.
OccHygiene provides expert silica monitoring services for the mining and quarrying sector. Our team understands both the national framework and the state-specific requirements that apply to your operation.
Request a Mining Monitoring Quote →
This article provides general information about silica dust monitoring in the mining and quarrying sector in Australia. For specific advice, consult your state or territory work health and safety or mining regulator.
