Author Identifier (ORCID)
Adelle Liebenberg: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0467-9412
Kiam Padamsey: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5151-5600
Matthew Oosthuizen: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9375-9117
Marcus Cattani: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7586-7288
Jacques Oosthuizen: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1589-5957
Abstract
The link between occupational exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) and silicosis, a potentially fatal respiratory disease, has been well-established, leading to global reductions in RCS Exposure Standards (ES). In Western Australia (WA), RCS data have been collected by the Department of Energy, Mining, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) from 1986 to 2024 (n = 144,141). These results were analysed to assess the impacts of recent changes to the ES on compliance. Findings suggest that the WA mining sector, regardless of commodity type, is compliant with RCS exposures as assessed against the 0.05 mg/m3 ES (2019). Laboratory technicians, exploratory drilling, miscellaneous trades/utilities, trades assistant, sample preparation, and sampler/sample operator are SEGS that had the highest RCS exposures. Exposure assessment did not account for the protection provided by respiratory protective equipment (RPE). In the WA mining sector, a robust respiratory protection regime is enforced that includes respirator fit testing, and this is most likely the case throughout Australia. On the balance of epidemiological evidence, industry compliance over decades, reducing exposure profiles, and robust RPE programmes, it could be argued that further reductions to the RCS exposure standard are not justified. Regulators need to consider the protection provided by respirators in exposure assessment.
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
10-1-2025
Volume
22
Issue
10
PubMed ID
41154971
Publication Title
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Publisher
MDPI
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
84449
Funders
Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety Centre, Edith Cowan University (G1007466)
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Liebenberg, A., Padamsey, K., Staples, K., Oosthuizen, M., Cattani, M., McCarthy, A., & Oosthuizen, J. (2025). Assessing compliance with evolving exposure standards: Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) exposure in Western Australian mining. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(10), 1567. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22101567