OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT
Act 85 of 1993.

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMIT FOR SILICA IN TABLE 1 OF THE HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES REGULATIONS
[Updated to 7 June 2013]

GoN 66, G. 32930 (c.i.o 5 February 2010),
GoN R408, G. 36548 (c.i.o 1 January 2014).

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE CONTROL LIMIT FOR AIRBORNE RESPIRABLE SILICA - 0.1MG/M3

On the 27th June 2008, Mr Membathisi Mphumzi Shepherd Mdladlana, Minister of Labour, published a Government Notice R.683, amending the Occupational Exposure Control Limit for Silica in Table 1 of the Hazardous Chemical Substances Regulations from 0,4 mg/m3 to 0,1 mg/m3.

All industries handling, manufacturing and producing products that may cause exposure to silica dust are required to submit annual reports indicating the following—

•	Number of samples taken and analysed;

•	Composition of dust;

•	Concentration of the constituents; and

•	Whether companies are complying with the current Occupational Exposure Limit for silica, if not, what steps are implemented to comply with the exposure limit?
[Submission of crystalline silica dust air monitoring reports am from bi-annual to annual reporting by GoN R408 in G. 36548.]

The Department of Labour is hereby publishing the silica dust data collection guiding document and the silica exposure compliance tool to be used by industries in reporting the required information.

DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR
Private Bag X117, PRETORIA, 0001. Laboria House, 215 Schoeman Street, PRETORIA 
Tel (012) 309 4000, Fax: (012) 320 5129, www.labour.gov.za

SILICA DUST DATA COLLECTION GUIDING DOCUMENT

1.	PURPOSE

The Department of Labour has reduced the occupational exposure limit of silica crystalline respirable dust from 0.4 mg/m3 to 0.1 mg/m3. There is presently no system in place for the industry to report to the Department of Labour whether industries comply with the new occupational exposure limit. The purpose of collecting silica exposure compliance information will enable the DOL to collect the following information—

(a)	National Profile of all the industries that have the potential to expose the employees to respirable silica dust;

(b)	To determine the level of exposure to respirable silica dust;

(c)	Number of employees exposed;

(d)	The AIA performing the monitoring and evaluation.

2.	REPORTING MECHANISM

The data must be sent directly to Head Office via e-mail to: 
Jabu.Mhlophe@labour.gov.za.

3.	SAMPLING

Sampling must be done according to the national and international recognised standards.

4.	FREQUENCY OR REPORTING

Data must be sent on the 31 July and 31 January of every year.
[Submission of crystalline silica dust air monitoring reports am from bi-annual to annual reporting by GoN R408 in G. 36548.]

5.	CONFIDENTIALITY

All information received will be confidential and it will not be shared with any other person or entity, except with the written consent from the company concerned.

SILICA EXPOSURE COMPLIANCE TOOL

COMPANY
	
Company registered name		
Company registration number		
Company VAT number		
“Trading as” name		
Name of CEO		
National Identity number of CEO		
Name of Managing Director		
National Identity number of Managing Director		
Company postal address		
		
Company physical address		
		
HYGIENIST	
Name of responsible occupational hygienist		
National Identity number of responsible occupational hygienist		
Qualifications of responsible Occupational Hygienist		
Level of registration with SAIOH			
SAIOH registration number of responsible Occupational Hygienist		
Does the company make use of an AlA? If the answer is yes then complete the following:		
Name of company		
AIA registration number		
Date of registration as an AIA		
Company postal address		
Company physical address		

Silica exposure monitoring	
Does the company handle, manufacture or produce any silica or silica containing substances? If yes, describe		
What are the main activities related to the handling or manufacturing of materials (tasks)		
Describe the area in the production process where the samples were taken		
Sampling methods used?			
Has a silica exposure baseline assessment been conducted?		
How many samples were taken in the process of the baseline assessment?		
Does the company have a formal silica exposure management program? 	(If the answer is yes, please attach a copy)	
Is silica exposure monitoring conducted on an annual basis as prescribed by HCS Regulations?		
Total number of employees exposed to silica dust.			
What is the maximum exposure level?		
Number of employees exposed to levels <10% of OEL		
Number of employees exposed to levels <50% of OEL		
Number of employees exposed to levels >100% of OEL		
Has a copy of the most recent silica exposure assessment report signed by the accredited occupational hygienist been attached?		
Does the company have in its possession MSDS for all silica containing substances?		
Does the company comply with the new OEL of 0,1 mg/ms?