rcs-cop-checker

Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Respirable Crystalline Silica

Purpose

This skill provides a complete verified reference to the Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Respirable Crystalline Silica in the Workplace (November 2025), published by Safe Work Australia and approved under section 274 of the Work Health and Safety Act. It ensures Claude provides accurate, authoritative guidance on managing RCS risks in compliance with the model WHS Act and Regulations.

The Code provides practical guidance to persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs), officers, principal contractors, workers, health and safety representatives, and other duty holders on how to comply with the WHS Act and WHS Regulations when managing risks associated with working with respirable crystalline silica (RCS).

Critical Rules

1. Only cite provisions that appear in the part files. Never fabricate or assume Code language or content.
2. Use conservative, factual language when describing requirements. Describe what the Code specifies in objective terms.
3. Always use Australian English spelling (e.g. minimise, analyse, behaviour, organisation, colour).
4. If a provision cannot be located in these files, state that the specific section should be verified against the current Code.
5. This Code represents model law — each jurisdiction may have adopted it with variations. Users should verify application in their jurisdiction.
6. Supplementary materials (templates, toolkits, case studies) are referenced in the Code but not included in this skill. Direct users to Safe Work Australia.

Part Index

Read the relevant part file(s) based on the query or compliance context:

File	Part	Key Topics	When to Read
parts/pt00-foreword.md	Foreword, Scope, How to Use	Status as approved COP; scope; language conventions	Understanding the Code's purpose and how to interpret it
parts/pt01-whs-duties.md	Part 1: WHS Duties	Primary duty of care; consultation with workers; training requirements; WES compliance	PCBU responsibilities for managing RCS risks
parts/pt02-identifying-managing-risks.md	Part 2: Identifying and Managing Risks	CSS definition; processing definition; controlled processing; hierarchy of controls (elimination, substitution, isolation, engineering, administrative, PPE/RPE); determining if processing is high risk	Understanding what RCS is, what constitutes processing, and how to manage risks
parts/pt03-high-risk-requirements.md	Part 3: High-Risk Requirements	Silica risk control plan; crystalline silica training; air monitoring; health monitoring	Requirements when processing is determined to be high risk
parts/pt04-reviewing-controls.md	Part 4: Maintaining and Reviewing	When control measures must be reviewed; review questions	Ensuring controls remain effective over time
parts/pt05-engineered-stone.md	Part 5: Engineered Stone	Prohibition scope; permitted work; notification requirements	Understanding restrictions and exceptions for engineered stone
parts/appendix-a-engineering-controls.md	Appendix A	General ventilation; local exhaust ventilation; on-tool extraction; water suppression; combining controls	Technical guidance on engineering control measures
parts/appendix-b-administrative-controls.md	Appendix B	Housekeeping; wet slurry management; recycled water; decontamination	Practical guidance on administrative control measures
parts/appendix-c-rpe.md	Appendix C	RPE selection; fit testing and fit checking; training and maintenance; inspection; record keeping	Detailed guidance on respiratory protective equipment programs
parts/appendix-d-duties-summary.md	Appendix D	WHS duties summary by role	Quick reference to duties of PCBUs, officers, principal contractors, designers/manufacturers, installers, workers, and other persons

Workflow

1. Identify the compliance domain from the user's query (e.g. is this about CSS definition, controlled processing, high risk assessment, engineered stone, RPE, monitoring, etc.)
2. Read the relevant part file(s) — read only what is needed, not all files
3. Cite provisions accurately from the extracted text
4. Use the glossary (Appendix E, reference section) for definitions
5. Flag any gaps — if the query requires information from the WHS Act 2011 (not covered in this skill) or other codes of practice, note this clearly

Common Query Routing

Query Topic	Primary Part(s)	Key Information
What is crystalline silica?	Part 2.1	Definition of CSS, forms of RCS (quartz, cristobalite, tridymite, tripoli)
What counts as processing?	Part 2.2	Definition of processing activities and examples
Controlled processing requirements	Part 2.3	Mandatory control measures (isolation, cabin, wet suppression, extraction, LEV, RPE)
Hierarchy of controls	Part 2.4	Elimination, substitution, isolation, engineering, administrative, PPE
Is my work high risk?	Part 2.5	Assessment factors (CSS details, frequency/duration, air monitoring, health monitoring, incidents)
Silica risk control plan	Part 3.1	When required, what to include, use of SWMS
Training requirements	Part 3.2	Who needs training, content, record keeping
Air monitoring	Part 3.3.1	When required, who conducts, reporting, compliance assessment
Health monitoring	Part 3.3.2	When required, what screening, record keeping
Engineering controls guidance	Appendix A	Ventilation, LEV, on-tool extraction, water suppression
RPE selection and use	Appendix C	AS/NZS standards, fit testing, maintenance, training
Engineered stone	Part 5	Prohibition scope, permitted repair/removal/disposal work
Maintaining controls	Part 4	Review triggers, review questions, record keeping

Version Information

• Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Respirable Crystalline Silica in the Workplace, November 2025
• Publisher: Safe Work Australia
• Approval: Approved code of practice under section 274 of the Work Health and Safety Act
• Licence: Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International
• Contact: Safe Work Australia | [email protected] | www.swa.gov.au

Note: This Code is a model code. Each Australian jurisdiction (Commonwealth, states and territories) has adopted or may vary this model. Verify the applicable Code in your jurisdiction. This skill covers the text as published in November 2025.