Respirable Silica Dust Exposure of Migrant Workers Informing
Regulatory Intervention in Engineered Stone Fabrication
Dublin Core
Title
Respirable Silica Dust Exposure of Migrant Workers Informing
Regulatory Intervention in Engineered Stone Fabrication
Regulatory Intervention in Engineered Stone Fabrication
Subject
Engineered stone
Micro or small-sized enterprises
Migrant workers
Respirable crystalline silica
Silicosis
Micro or small-sized enterprises
Migrant workers
Respirable crystalline silica
Silicosis
Description
Silicosis among workers who fabricate engineered stone products in micro or small-sized
enterprises (MSEs) was reported from several countries. Workplace exposure data of these workers at
high risk of exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust are limited.
Methods: We surveyed workers performing cutting, shaping and polishing tasks at 6 engineered stone
fabricatingMSEs in Sydney, Australia prior to regulatoryintervention. Personal exposure to airborne RCS dust in
34 workers was measured, work practices were observed using a checklist and worker demography recorded.
Results: Personal respirable dust measurements showed exposures above the Australian workplace
exposure standard (WES) of 0.1 mg/m3 TWA-8 hours for RCS in 85% of workers who performed dry tasks
and amongst 71% using water-fed tools. Dust exposure controls were inadequate with ineffective
ventilation and inappropriate respiratory protection. All 34 workers sampled were identified as overseasborn migrants, mostly from three linguistic groups.
Conclusions: Workplace exposure data from this survey showed that workers in engineered stone
fabricating MSEs were exposed to RCS dust levels which may be associated with a high risk of developing
silicosis. The survey findings were useful to inform a comprehensive regulatory intervention program
involving diverse hazard communication tools and enforcing improved exposure controls. We conclude
that modest occupational hygiene surveys in MSEs, with attention to workers’ demographic factors can
influence the effectiveness of intervention programs. Occupational health practitioners should address
these potential determinants of hazardous exposures in their workplace surveys to prevent illness such
as silicosis in vulnerable workers
enterprises (MSEs) was reported from several countries. Workplace exposure data of these workers at
high risk of exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust are limited.
Methods: We surveyed workers performing cutting, shaping and polishing tasks at 6 engineered stone
fabricatingMSEs in Sydney, Australia prior to regulatoryintervention. Personal exposure to airborne RCS dust in
34 workers was measured, work practices were observed using a checklist and worker demography recorded.
Results: Personal respirable dust measurements showed exposures above the Australian workplace
exposure standard (WES) of 0.1 mg/m3 TWA-8 hours for RCS in 85% of workers who performed dry tasks
and amongst 71% using water-fed tools. Dust exposure controls were inadequate with ineffective
ventilation and inappropriate respiratory protection. All 34 workers sampled were identified as overseasborn migrants, mostly from three linguistic groups.
Conclusions: Workplace exposure data from this survey showed that workers in engineered stone
fabricating MSEs were exposed to RCS dust levels which may be associated with a high risk of developing
silicosis. The survey findings were useful to inform a comprehensive regulatory intervention program
involving diverse hazard communication tools and enforcing improved exposure controls. We conclude
that modest occupational hygiene surveys in MSEs, with attention to workers’ demographic factors can
influence the effectiveness of intervention programs. Occupational health practitioners should address
these potential determinants of hazardous exposures in their workplace surveys to prevent illness such
as silicosis in vulnerable workers
Creator
Mahinda Seneviratne 1,*, Kiran Shankar 2
, Phillip Cantrell 1
, Aklesh Nand
, Phillip Cantrell 1
, Aklesh Nand
Source
https://pdf.sciencedirectassets.com/287282/1-s2.0-S2093791124X00025/1-s2.0-S2093791124000039/main.pdf?X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjED4aCXVzLWVhc3QtMSJIMEYCIQDvNHaMX8iDVzD5xetxhy37CYe74Z1vM0ulioID2GZ%2FpgIhAOeRwWHEnsMTdRqmWWryHrGFuBCNWA7H8s5RgwEm83GrKrIFCAYQBRoMMDU5MDAzNTQ2ODY1IgxmJU8vEyBSlIHuiqcqjwXLZl47eN02SUA6eed3PMHp9Un06Nk2gJs1nTIEo%2B8G3d1niAi2R1Y0X7%2BkcyMKSu2Ium%2FkjU62bivW67lL2imtG5hG6sAnuZgOmCwd9YRxHGoV17JvV7WmTRU2byza2V4M5GPwHWGcFL7KVQAkh9Y4%2Bsa6Zf74NsXg2gS8uw%2BI6I3SKJ7cFlKarnOW4qU4RCqsEERU6EI5SJK6gNLx0HAAH0BJ4aMaQx8t4c30jCqrcHeYSvLKTSIodo23YfxNnUpIF6zCZryRzPqqWL%2FfUNp0pi11RwkSGAnXORON8kR2bBtoss6wam4snvAZdD3m%2FqWZwa2ZVBRDLX7Fxc8UgZoEWyXjxpxusxAe0MYYfZ%2FGy%2FJw4wA6qePKWNv%2B8M3wNkLsbcUFGogFS4qhhn%2F9BYpJULYtTW3hAjYmTltvDMUwDzDiYwwoi6HolE2Fs2s5DvT%2Frl9MVkJjMR2PQ7t2l0dFjKe3maSg7JrADw6UOKICi3MJoJ16NAQq62oYjRAYrG6yrvZGBi%2FlQh3MrPxLLXiBKDlnBG58z4TuhrIlVViavBIQ3VI7SMnFiMyEwMNI8G5AtZRaaodFW5XKb7S1KrHiATZK5oy519UOCcDgFy1CUz5clT19XNBCk7prYMl4HXTivH3FoAeiIBqmR64oM3n81ZNuhu46llnZ9L6PpYKEQ1r5wkJ5SyA16barFBzB0bHh0YpageCD17sEFTdgT%2FPhlvqqxfn0EHbTwbHmJn5%2BlAV4rySjIr9t89CLfA5yodnY3tN%2BZI%2B2eYjF1DWXmD4PlgYDqqEFA%2FVuUjkSamk3%2Fk8PVbHzGU%2FSADFNZb%2B3mmq6Oa96qILwLn8sbhCuBzMLnYa9E%2F4mz6Q54j1jETuqMP%2BK%2BswGOrABPz0oq%2FgPOCjjyZcpE6v54f7zJIDXAFQexOMeKVHGqDFhj87KxW2QpfDyQkhKXYUG5lXbpJv2S8Gh4nbkvhCaF2USduhXMgOLErtjYpYiwOXCdfImXZVeavKpKwedS6FBIAL7CN3geZtr9zBnpjrtkEYsKDCuzscxdk5OjwslBgCPiwGkz9WaIFzanl1pu6NshpSpNDhLQFo1lFeukoWJh09XuqCAM0Pvzb9mFochK04%3D&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Date=20260225T061645Z&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAQ3PHCVTY6YUDN7F5%2F20260225%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Signature=32583be54addf9eaea39cbc350d4458771c9359d73840e9b5515447339cd09b9&hash=5b0554c932d34137f196c3bb929fb8310a1799bbfc38d70dbc6480e2f1bb1933&host=68042c943591013ac2b2430a89b270f6af2c76d8dfd086a07176afe7c76c2c61&pii=S2093791124000039&tid=spdf-50427dad-4d36-4dcb-aaea-1bcf9d6ba8b5&sid=323f66de8e4980408c0be7b-7fe7e7fe55f2gxrqb&type=client&tsoh=d3d3LnNjaWVuY2VkaXJlY3QuY29t&rh=d3d3LnNjaWVuY2VkaXJlY3QuY29t&ua=0b015e065457505456&rr=9d351361baa3ea76&cc=id
Publisher
1 Hygiene & Toxicology Team, SafeWork NSW, Parramatta, Australia
2 Chemical Analysis Branch, TestSafe Australia, Thornleigh, Australia
2 Chemical Analysis Branch, TestSafe Australia, Thornleigh, Australia
Date
3 February 2024
Contributor
FAJAR BAGUS W
Format
PDF
Language
ENGLISH
Type
TEXT
Files
Citation
Mahinda Seneviratne 1,*, Kiran Shankar 2
, Phillip Cantrell 1
, Aklesh Nand, “Respirable Silica Dust Exposure of Migrant Workers Informing
Regulatory Intervention in Engineered Stone Fabrication,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 26, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/11665.
Regulatory Intervention in Engineered Stone Fabrication,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 26, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/11665.