New safety requirements for work involving the processing of crystalline silica substances (CSS) begin 1 September 2024. 

These safeguards apply to all materials containing at least 1% crystalline silica and include work involving: 

• the use of power tools or mechanical plant to carry out an activity involving the crushing, cutting, grinding, trimming, sanding, abrasive polishing or drilling of a CSS
• the use of roadheaders to excavate material that is a CSS
• quarrying of a material that is a CSS
• mechanical screening involving a material that is a CSS
• tunnelling through a material that is a CSS
• a process that exposes, or is reasonably likely to expose, a person to respirable crystalline silica during the manufacture or handling of a CSS. 

These safeguards will protect workers, together with the engineered stone ban which came into effect on 1 July 2024. The ban prohibits the manufacture, supply, processing and installation of engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs containing at least 1% silica.