Question 1

Do resource recovery sites need silica air monitoring?

Accepted Answer

Not automatically. Air monitoring may be required where the business cannot demonstrate on reasonable grounds that respirable crystalline silica exposure stays below the workplace exposure standard (0.05 mg/m³, 8-hour TWA), or where monitoring is needed to determine whether there is a risk. The starting point is a documented exposure assessment.

Question 2

Does concrete crushing create respirable crystalline silica?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Concrete, brick, masonry and natural stone all contain crystalline silica, and crushing, screening and conveying these materials generates respirable particles. Exposure levels depend on the material, the process, the controls in place (water suppression, enclosures, cab integrity) and the worker's role.

Question 3

Can demolition waste contain asbestos?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Until 31 December 2003, asbestos-containing materials were legally used in Australian buildings. Demolition-derived material can contain asbestos cement sheet, pipe, vinyl tile backing, gaskets and insulation — sometimes in obvious form, often broken or buried inside mixed loads. This is why intake screening, spotter training and a contamination response procedure are critical.

Question 4

What records should we keep for SafeWork SA?

Accepted Answer

At a minimum: a current hazard identification and risk register, a silica risk control plan, an asbestos management plan and contamination response procedure, air monitoring records (where applicable), SOPs and SWMS, training and competency records, a respiratory protection program with fit testing, engineering control maintenance logs, an incident register, and review records. We have a full checklist in our documentation guide.

Question 5

How often should monitoring be done?

Accepted Answer

There is no fixed interval. Monitoring frequency is driven by exposure level, process stability, control performance and changes in input streams. Where exposures are close to the standard or processes change, more frequent monitoring is appropriate. Where exposures are well below the standard and processes are stable, frequency can be reduced — but the rationale should be documented.

Question 6

What is a silica risk control plan?

Accepted Answer

A documented assessment that identifies similar exposure groups, characterises exposure (based on monitoring or equivalent evidence), sets out the hierarchy of control measures applied (substitution, isolation, engineering, administrative, RPE), and defines monitoring and review triggers. It is the document that demonstrates the silica risk has been actively managed.

Question 7

Is asbestos air monitoring required at recycling sites?

Accepted Answer

Air monitoring for asbestos is not automatically required at every recycling site, but it may be required during contamination response work, after a confirmed contamination event, or where there is uncertainty about exposure. The model Code of Practice on managing asbestos in the workplace is the primary reference for when monitoring is appropriate.

Question 8

What happens if monitoring results are high?

Accepted Answer

An exceedance triggers an obligation to review controls, identify the root cause and implement corrective actions to bring exposure below the standard. This typically means upstream engineering changes (suppression, enclosures, ventilation), not just additional PPE. The corrective actions and follow-up monitoring should be documented.

Question 9

Can AX4 review our current management plan?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We conduct gap reviews of existing dust, silica and asbestos management plans, identify what is current, what is missing and what needs updating, and provide a prioritised remediation plan. This is usually the fastest way to move toward an audit-ready position without rebuilding everything from scratch.

Question 10

Can AX4 provide ongoing monitoring?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We coordinate ongoing silica and asbestos exposure monitoring through NATA-accredited laboratories, provide reporting against the workplace exposure standard, and support sites with the corrective action loop where required.

Resource Recovery Dust, Silica & Asbestos Compliance FAQs

Common questions from operators

Articles in this cluster

Dust, Silica and Asbestos Risks in Resource Recovery Sites

Do Recycling and Crushing Sites Need Silica Air Monitoring?

Asbestos Contamination Risk in Construction and Demolition Recycling

What Documentation Should a Resource Recovery Site Have for Dust and Silica?

Dust Control Measures for Crushing, Screening and Stockpiling Sites

Why Resource Recovery Companies Need Evidence-Based WHS Records

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