Silica Dust Regulation in Australia: 2025–2026 Compliance Guide

Introduction

Silica dust exposure continues to be one of the most pressing occupational health challenges across Australia’s construction, civil, remediation and industrial sectors. Silicosis case numbers, increased regulatory scrutiny and stronger community expectations have all contributed to a comprehensive tightening of obligations under national and state WHS laws.

Since July 2024, significant changes have taken effect: the national engineered stone ban is now operational in all jurisdictions, and model WHS amendments have expanded duties around silica risk control, monitoring and worker protection. In late 2025, updated Codes of Practice and WHS regulator guidance continue to refine expectations, especially for high-risk construction and remediation activity.

While the current Workplace Exposure Standard (WES) remains 0.05 mg/m³ (8-hour TWA), Safe Work Australia has proposed a reduction to 0.025 mg/m³. Many regulators are now signalling that industry should begin planning engineering controls, equipment upgrades and monitoring programs consistent with this anticipated lower benchmark.

In this article, we clarify what has changed, what is proposed and how organisations can prepare to meet compliance obligations now and into 2026.

Regulatory Overview: Australia’s New Silica Dust Requirements (2024–2026)

Australia’s silica reforms are now well–established, forming part of a significant multi-year response to widespread occupational health concerns.

Engineered Stone Ban — Fully in Force Nationally

From 1 July 2024, the manufacture, supply, processing and installation of engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs became prohibited across all states and territories. Each jurisdiction has implemented the ban under its WHS legislation, with transitional arrangements varying slightly but converging on a uniform national prohibition.

For legacy engineered stone already installed in existing buildings, disturbance activities such as cutting, drilling, demolition or disposal are permitted only under strict WHS controls, including:

• high-level exposure monitoring
  
  
• restricted work methods
  
  
• enhanced PPE requirements
  
  
• rigorous documentation and worker notification
  
  

These legacy provisions will remain a major compliance focus throughout 2025–2026 as refurbishment and demolition programs continue across Australia.

Workplace Exposure Standard — Current Limit and Proposed Reduction

As at December 2025:

• The legal WES remains 0.05 mg/m³ (8-hour TWA) for respirable crystalline silica.
  
  
• Safe Work Australia has proposed lowering the limit to 0.025 mg/m³ following scientific and medical review.
  
  
• While this limit is not yet legally binding, regulators increasingly expect industry to plan, assess and design controls capable of meeting the lower threshold.
  
  

This “prepare-now” expectation is driving a shift in dust-control engineering, equipment procurement, health monitoring and environmental management practices.

Strengthened WHS Obligations — Model Regulation Amendments

Amendments introduced from 1 September 2024 across model WHS jurisdictions expanded silica controls for any material containing ≥1% crystalline silica. These requirements include:

• mandatory silica risk assessments
  
  
• air monitoring where risks cannot be eliminated
  
  
• health monitoring for workers with ongoing exposure
  
  
• clear documentation and communication of results
  
  
• defined control measures for high-risk tasks
  
  
• enhanced requirements for information, training and instruction
  
  

States and territories are progressively integrating these changes into their own legislation, with enforcement emphasis increasing in 2025–2026.

Industry Impact: What the 2025–2026 Silica Regulations Mean for Construction, Demolition, Remediation and Waste Classification

The updated silica framework affects the entire project lifecycle—from early planning and soil disturbance through to material handling, demolition and waste disposal.

Construction and Civil Works

The construction sector faces some of the most immediate compliance expectations, particularly for activities that generate airborne dust, including:

• concrete cutting, drilling and grinding
  
  
• excavation and trenching
  
  
• tunnelling and piling
  
  
• road construction and civil earthworks
  
  
• structural demolition and refurbishment
  
  

Construction Environmental Management Plans (CEMPs) now require silica-specific control measures, detailing:

• task-based risk assessments
  
  
• suppression and extraction systems
  
  
• exposure monitoring programs
  
  
• dust mitigation strategies for community impact
  
  
• roles, responsibilities and training requirements
  
  

Regulators are increasingly checking for silica plans and exposure results during audits and site inspections, elevating the importance of robust and defensible documentation.

Demolition and Refurbishment

Silica exposure is a major risk in demolition, particularly during:

• mechanical destruction of masonry materials
  
  
• removal of engineered stone
  
  
• building reconfiguration and cut-outs
  
  
• high-vibration impact tools
  
  
• waste removal and loading activities
  
  

Under current WHS expectations, the demolition sector must operate within a framework of:

• wet cutting and suppression
  
  
• on-tool extraction
  
  
• local exhaust ventilation
  
  
• isolation of high-risk zones
  
  
• negative-pressure systems for enclosed work
  
  
• decontamination protocols
  
  

Real-time dust monitoring is emerging as best practice for high-intensity demolition activities, particularly where legacy engineered stone is present.

Contaminated Land, Soil Disturbance and Remediation

Respirable crystalline silica is increasingly treated as an environmental and occupational exposure risk during:

• large-scale excavation and bulk earthworks
  
  
• handling of sandstone and silica-rich spoil
  
  
• stockpiling and wind-erosion risk
  
  
• site remediation and soil classification
  
  
• landfill excavation and void reinstatement
  
  

Silica exposure must now be considered alongside traditional contamination hazards (e.g., hydrocarbons, PFAS, asbestos). Airborne dust monitoring, boundary monitoring and risk-based remediation methodologies are becoming standard requirements, particularly on sites adjacent to sensitive receivers such as residential areas, aged care, childcare or education facilities.

Waste Classification and Disposal

Legacy engineered stone and silica-bearing materials require compliant classification, handling and disposal. Waste operators are adapting to:

• new engineered stone waste protocols
  
  
• improved dust suppression systems
  
  
• stricter PPE requirements
  
  
• enhanced plant containment and enclosure expectations
  
  
• increased regulator inspections
  
  

Incorrectly classified engineered stone waste or poorly controlled dust at waste facilities is a key enforcement priority entering 2026.

Action Plan for Compliance: Steps Developers and Consultants Must Take in 2025–2026

Given the current regulatory environment and the anticipated WES reduction, developers, contractors and industrial operators must adopt a proactive compliance strategy.

Implement Comprehensive Silica Exposure Monitoring

Air monitoring is a central expectation under the strengthened WHS framework. Organisations should implement:

• baseline exposure assessments covering typical silica-generating tasks
  
  
• personal exposure monitoring for workers undertaking high-risk activities
  
  
• real-time monitoring during demolition, tunnelling or enclosed-space works
  
  
• boundary monitoring for off-site and community dust impact
  
  
• documented review of monitoring results, communicated to workers
  
  

The monitoring frequency should reflect task intensity, workforce exposure profiles and project risk.

Conduct Detailed Silica Risk Assessments

Risk assessments now need to be far more granular, incorporating:

• material characterisation (e.g., soil type, masonry content, engineered stone presence)
  
  
• exposure scenarios for each task
  
  
• control measure hierarchy evaluations
  
  
• atmospheric monitoring triggers
  
  
• contingency plans for high readings
  
  
• integration into CEMPs, EMPs and SWMS
  
  

A defensible, well-structured silica risk assessment has become a core expectation of regulators, tender assessors and principal contractors.

Strengthen Worker Health Surveillance

Workers with ongoing exposure to respirable crystalline silica must be enrolled in appropriate health surveillance programs. These should include:

• pre-employment or baseline health assessments
  
  
• periodic respiratory health checks
  
  
• lung function testing
  
  
• documentation of exposure levels and history
  
  
• medical review following elevated monitoring results
  
  

Health surveillance programs must be overseen by suitably qualified health professionals, with clear documentation and communication protocols.

Upgrade Dust-Control Engineering and Equipment

Given the anticipated move toward the 0.025 mg/m³ benchmark, organisations should begin aligning engineering controls with this level of protection. This includes:

• high-efficiency local exhaust ventilation (LEV)
  
  
• water suppression and on-tool extraction
  
  
• enclosed work zones and negative-pressure units
  
  
• HEPA-filtered air scrubbers
  
  
• sealed plant cabins with positive pressure
  
  
• low-dust cutting and grinding technologies
  
  

Choosing equipment and methods that meet the anticipated lower WES helps futureproof compliance and reduce long-term risk.

Strengthen Project Documentation and Contractor Controls

Project documentation must be updated to reflect current and emerging silica requirements. This includes:

• silica-specific sections within EMPs and CEMPs
  
  
• updated SWMS and technical specifications
  
  
• contractor management and competency evidence
  
  
• exposure monitoring reports
  
  
• emergency response procedures
  
  

Clear, consistent, and well-integrated documentation not only supports compliance but enhances project governance and operational efficiency.

Conclusion: Protecting Workers, Communities and Project Outcomes

As of December 2025, Australia’s silica regulatory landscape is firmly established and continuing to evolve. With the engineered stone ban fully implemented and strengthened WHS obligations applying across construction, demolition, civil works, remediation and waste operations, silica compliance must now be embedded into core project planning and delivery.

We support developers, contractors, government agencies and industrial operators in navigating these requirements through comprehensive silica risk assessments, monitoring programs, environmental management documentation and remediation strategies.

To ensure your project meets 2025–2026 compliance expectations, book a consultation with our environmental experts.

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