Safety
Managing Risks of Crystalline Silica
Understand crystalline silica exposure, health effects and the controls that keep workers safe and compliant on site.
Estimated time1 Hour
FormatOnline, self-paced
On completionCPD certificate
Course Overview
Silica Awareness is an online, self-paced safety course for construction and electrical workers who may disturb silica-containing materials, and for their supervisors. Respirable crystalline silica is found in concrete, bricks, tiles, stone and engineered stone, and cutting, grinding or drilling these materials releases fine dust that can cause silicosis and other irreversible lung diseases. The course covers the hazards and the risk controls used to reduce exposure, including Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS), silica control plans, respiratory protective equipment (RPE), water suppression and ventilation, and safe work practices. It addresses NSW SafeWork silica-training requirements. It is available to workers across Australia, including New South Wales and Queensland. This single introductory module takes about one hour and finishes with a knowledge assessment and a certificate of completion recording your learning hours.
Related training: Working in Western Australia? See our Managing Risks of Crystalline Silica (WA) course for WA-focused content. Queensland has its own Managing Risks of Crystalline Silica (QLD) course, built for the state’s silica training rules.
New to the rules? Read our plain-language guide, Crystalline Silica Explained, covering the engineered-stone ban, hazard control statements and dust controls.
What You’ll Learn
Recognise the health risks of respirable crystalline silica and irreversible lung diseases such as silicosis
Identify common silica sources including concrete, bricks, tiles, stone and engineered stone
Understand how cutting, grinding and drilling release fine respirable silica dust on site
Describe key risk controls including SWMS, silica control plans, RPE, water suppression and ventilation
Understand the basics of NSW SafeWork silica-training requirements and safe work practices
What’s Included
Self-paced online module
Knowledge assessment
Certificate on completion
Approx. 1 Hour
Records CPD hours
Records your CPD hours
On completion you’ll receive a certificate recording your CPD hours, ready to add to your professional development record.
Prefer face-to-face training?
NECA Training delivers this in person: silica training in Canberra, on the South Coast and in Brisbane.
Training a team?
Buy 2 or more seats and your company group is set up automatically.
- One link for your whole team - share it (or the QR code) and each person is enrolled as they join.
- Everyone registers as themselves - each certificate is issued in the learner’s own name.
- You see everyone’s progress - your purchase makes you the group manager.
- Need more seats later - buy the same course again and they’re added to your existing group.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is crystalline silica and why is it dangerous?
Crystalline silica is a natural mineral found in stone, concrete, bricks, tiles and engineered stone. Cutting, grinding or drilling these materials releases fine respirable silica dust which, when inhaled, can cause silicosis and other serious, irreversible lung diseases.
What does silica awareness training cover?
Recognising where respirable crystalline silica comes from, the health risks, how to assess and control dust exposure (water suppression, ventilation and respiratory protection), and safe work practices on site.
Who should do silica awareness training?
Construction and electrical workers who may disturb silica-containing materials, and the supervisors responsible for managing dust exposure.
Can I do silica awareness training online?
Yes – NECA Learn’s Silica Awareness course is online and self-paced.
Does this course count toward my CPD or licence renewal?
This course records self-paced professional development, with a certificate of completion documenting your learning. It is not represented as an approved licence-renewal or skills-maintenance course. Renewal requirements are set by your state or territory regulator; see our state-by-state electrician licensing guide and confirm what applies to your licence before relying on any course for renewal.
