Danger Dust

During the process of bagging silica flour, workers described plumes of silica dust escaping from the bags at head height and, on occasion, faulty bags bursting and leaving the machine operator covered in material.

A number of workers were placed at risk by this process between 2012 and 2020, including two who have since been diagnosed with silicosis.

Insidious diseases like silicosis do not discriminate so it is critical that employers continuously review and update their systems and processes to ensure they are best practice.