Health and safety effects of dust
From 1 September 2020, the occupational exposure limits (OEL) for respirable dust and respirable crystalline silica (RCS) are 1.5mg/m3 and 0.05mg/m3 respectively.
Breathing in dust can result in a range of occupational illnesses and diseases depending on:
- size of dust particles
- composition of the dust particle and its effect on the body
- concentration of dust particles in the breathing zone of the worker
- how often and how long a person breathes in the dust.
Most dust clouds contain particles of widely varying sizes. Hazardous dust is not always visible.
The larger particles that can be breathed in are called inhalable or inspirable dust particles. Inhalable dust particles are visible to the naked eye and are deposited in the nose, throat and upper respiratory tract. Respirable dust contains dust particles so small they are invisible to the naked eye and reach deep into the lungs.
Different types of dust particles have different health effects. For example, respirable crystalline silica dust causes scarring of the lungs, and inhalable lead dust can damage the central nervous system. Many occupational diseases are the result of many years of exposure to dust and it may take years or decades before the disease becomes noticeable.
The potential health effects of some common dusts in mines and quarries are summarised below.
| Health effect | Dust particle content |
|---|---|
| Systemic toxic effects caused by absorption into the blood | Lead, manganese, cadmium, zinc |
| Allergic and hypersensitivity reactions | Certain woods, organic and inorganic chemicals |
| Bacterial and fungal infections | Viable organisms or spores |
| Lung scarring and fibrosis | Asbestos, quartz (crystalline silica) |
| Cancer | Chromates, asbestos, quartz (crystalline silica) |
| Irritation of the mucous membranes of the nose and throat | Acid, alkali, other irritating particles |
| Pulmonary disease (e.g. coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) such as bronchitis and emphysema) | Coal dust |
Other impacts
High levels of dust can reduce visibility and become a safety hazard.
Coal dust is an important cause of underground explosions. Preventing underground explosions and their catastrophic consequences must always be a high priority in all mining operations, particularly underground coal mining operations.
Also consider...
- Visit the European Community respiratory health survey for questionnaires, protocols and instructions for assessing respiratory health.
- Read the Worksafe Queensland guide on Silica - identifying and managing crystalline silica dust exposure (PDF, 343KB).
- View a review of coal mine dust exposures and associated health outcomes.
- View the results of the parliamentary inquiry into workplace exposure to toxic dust.
- Read our mines safety bulletin on preventing dust-related lung diseases.
- Read about our review of pneumoconiosis screening.
- Visit Miners' Health Matters for information about mine dust lung disease, prevention, health surveillance and support for workers.
- Last reviewed: 26 Feb 2016
- Last updated: 1 Sep 2020