Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) Courses
Our online Crystalline Silica online course is an approved course, which meets the Safe Work NSW training criteria.
​
Excerpt from Safe Work NSW Website:
​
You must provide crystalline silica training to:
-
any worker involved in processing of a crystalline silica substance (CSS) that is high risk; or
-
who is at risk of exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) because of that processing.
If your workers are not undertaking high risk processing, you must still provide appropriate information, instruction, training or supervision to anyone who may be exposed to RCS at the workplace.
There are several options available to PCBUs to ensure workers are appropriately trained.
​
Any training undertaken must meet a set of criteria in order to be deemed ‘approved training’ in NSW.
​
If you wish to develop in-house training or arrange for training to be delivered by a third party, and that training meets the below criteria, it will be considered regulator-approved training.
​
Course criteria
-
Identify the health risks associated with exposure to RCS, including signs and symptoms of silicosis.
-
How to determine if a material contains crystalline silica, including:
-
an explanation of the forms of crystalline silica listed in 529A of the WHS Regulation
-
the common materials and products known to contain crystalline.
-
-
How to interpret safety data sheets (SDS) and manufacturer’s information, including the meaning of ‘processing’ in relation to CSS as defined by section 529A of the WHS Regulation.
-
How RCS is generated during processing, how workers can be exposed and the relevant workplace exposure standards for the forms of RCS.
-
What is ‘controlled’ processing of CSS under section 529B of the WHS Regulation.
-
The requirements for the controls listed in subsection 529B(1)(b) of the WHS Regulation, how they work and how to use them.
-
The types of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) specified by 'AS/NZS 1715:2009 Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment', deemed as being suitable to protect against exposure to RCS.
-
How to determine if RPE is compliant with the required standard 'AS/NZS 1716:2012 Respiratory protective devices'.
-
Fit-checking, fit-testing and facial-hair requirements for tight-fitting RPE in compliance with 'AS/NZS 1715:2009 Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment'.
-
General housekeeping and cleaning methods to eliminate or minimise risk of exposure to RCS for CSS processes.
-
WHS Regulation requirements for:
-
silica risk control plans (or safe work method statements (SWMS) for construction work) under section 529CB of the WHS Regulation when undertaking processing which is high risk.
-
compliance with a silica risk control plan under section 529CC of the WHS Regulation or, for SWMS, section 300 of the WHS Regulation.
-
compliance with section 529CE including:
-
determining when air monitoring may be required under section 50 of the WHS Regulation.
-
providing the regulator with results of any air monitoring undertaken which shows the airborne concentration of RCS has exceeded the workplace exposure standard for crystalline silica.
-
determining when health monitoring may be required under part 7.1 division 6 of the WHS Regulation.
-
-
​