Silica dust on residential sites: controls for cutting concrete, brick, tile and pavers
The engineered stone ban removed the worst material, not the hazard. Concrete, bricks, tiles, pavers and mortar all contain crystalline silica, and cutting, chasing and grinding them on a house site can produce dangerous dust. Here is what the rules require and the controls that work.
7 min read
Topic
Hazardous substances
Articles and news about Hazardous substances for Australian builders.
Silica dust on residential sites: controls for cutting concrete, brick, tile and pavers
The engineered stone ban removed the worst material, not the hazard. Concrete, bricks, tiles, pavers and mortar all contain crystalline silica, and cutting, chasing and grinding them on a house site can produce dangerous dust. Here is what the rules require and the controls that work.
7 min read
Asbestos in renovations: what builders must do before the first cut
Most Australian homes built before the 1990s contain asbestos somewhere. On a renovation, the builder is the person most likely to disturb it. Where to look, who can remove it, and the steps that keep workers and families safe.
8 min read
Engineered stone ban: what builders, cabinet makers and renovators must do now
Engineered stone can no longer be supplied, installed or processed in Australia, but the silica rules reach much further. What the ban means for kitchens, renovations and every cut into concrete, brick and tile.
9 min read