Newcastle — Respirable Dust & Silica Air Monitoring for Residential Construction
Confluence Environmental delivered a five-day occupational hygiene monitoring program at an active residential construction project in Newcastle, NSW, assessing personal exposure to respirable dust and respirable crystalline silica.
With more than 100 workers active on site, the program provided baseline exposure information to inform dust controls, task-specific risk assessment and ongoing monitoring.
About the project
The construction works involved a range of activities with the potential to generate airborne dust, including concrete drilling, masonry cutting, mortar mixing, formwork and housekeeping.
Confluence was engaged to assess exposure during routine operations and provide practical recommendations to the project’s work health and safety team.
Project at a glance:
Monitoring period: Five consecutive working days.
Site activity: More than 100 workers present during the monitoring program.
Personal monitoring: Three workers monitored each day.
Samples collected: 15 personal respirable dust and crystalline silica samples.
Deliverable: Occupational hygiene assessment with task-specific control and follow-up monitoring recommendations.
Personal exposure monitoring during construction
Confluence coordinated with site personnel to select workers undertaking activities representative of the construction program.
Personal sampling equipment was positioned within each selected worker’s breathing zone, with work activities recorded to support interpretation of the results.
The program covered varied tasks, including:
Brick cutting and mortar mixing.
Concrete drilling and installation works.
Formwork and hoarding activities.
Material handling and site cleaning.
General movement and supervision across construction areas.
Monitoring across multiple days captured a broader range of activities than a single-day assessment.
Laboratory analysis and interpretation
Samples were submitted to a NATA-accredited laboratory for respirable dust analysis and crystalline silica determination using X-ray diffraction.
Confluence reviewed sampling quality, laboratory results, recorded activities and working patterns to assess exposure under the conditions monitored. The interpretation considered differences between tasks and the implications of extended working hours.
Results were used to identify activities requiring closer attention and to inform recommendations for engineering controls, work practices and respiratory protection. The assessment provided a baseline for subsequent verification as construction activities changed.
Practical recommendations for dust and silica management
Confluence recommended developing a site-specific crystalline silica risk assessment and control plan, supported by task-based exposure groups and further monitoring.
Recommendations addressed:
Verification and maintenance of water suppression and on-tool dust extraction.
Review of masonry cutting and mortar mixing practices.
Improved housekeeping using suitable vacuuming or wet methods.
Respiratory protection arrangements, including fit testing and training.
Silica awareness and reinforcement of controls during site briefings.
Follow-up personal monitoring to assess the effectiveness of controls.
These recommendations gave the site team specific priorities for managing exposure during ongoing construction.
Supporting ongoing exposure management
The five-day program connected personal monitoring data with the work being performed, helping the project team identify where controls needed review and where further verification would be useful.
Confluence’s assessment provided a documented basis for ongoing dust and silica management, recognising that exposure can change with construction stages, materials, work methods and site conditions.
Need silica air monitoring or occupational hygiene support in Newcastle, the Hunter or across NSW? Contact Confluence Environmental to discuss your project.