Health MonitoringRespirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) Medicals.
Crystalline silica is a hazardous chemical and workers exposed to it require regular health monitoring. KINNECT delivers Respirable Crystalline Silica Medicals nationwide for construction, tunnelling, mining, quarrying and manufacturing workforces.
Delivered nationally through KINNECT-owned clinics and our partner network — onsite mobilisation available for larger workforces.
- Safe Work Australia hazardous chemical health monitoring
- Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ)
- WorkSafe Western Australia silica regulations
- ILO-classified chest X-ray with dual-read by qualified Radiologists (where required)
- In-house Occupational Health Doctor sign-off on every result
Employers running tunnelling, mining, quarrying, construction, stone-cutting, abrasive blasting, foundry casting or other operations where workers may inhale crystalline silica dust.
The short version
Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) Medicals are statutory health monitoring assessments for workers exposed to silica dust in construction, tunnelling, mining, manufacturing and quarrying. KINNECT delivers pre-employment, periodic and exit RCS medicals nationally — aligned to Safe Work Australia, Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) and WorkSafe WA frameworks — with results reviewed by in-house Occupational Health Doctors.
The dangers of respirable crystalline silica.
Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is a hazardous chemical commonly found in aggregates, mortar, concrete and stone. Regular inhalation can cause respiratory irritation, shortness of breath and asthma. Workers with frequent high-level exposure can develop acute silicosis — a progressive lung fibrosis that can cause severe shortness of breath and, in some cases, death.
Why it matters
Silicosis is one of the most serious occupational lung diseases in Australia today. Health monitoring is the early-warning system: regular spirometry, respiratory examination and chest imaging detect changes long before a worker would notice them — giving employers a chance to act on exposure controls.
KINNECT coordinates RCS monitoring programs for large multinational organisations across tunnelling, mining and construction, and our Occupational Health Doctors hold a competency level 4 in health surveillance for all hazardous substances, including RCS.
Work activities that typically require RCS health monitoring
Excavation, earth-moving & drilling
Operating excavators, drill rigs and earth-moving plant in soils and rock containing crystalline silica.
Stone & clay processing
Machine operation in clay and stone processing, including engineered stone fabrication and bench-top work.
Mining & mineral ore treating
Underground and open-cut mining, ore crushing, mineral processing and quarrying.
Construction labouring
General construction work, including paving, surfacing and dry brick, concrete or stone cutting.
Abrasive blasting
Sand and slag blasting operations — the blasting agent must not contain more than 1% crystalline silica.
Foundry casting
Foundry environments where moulds, cores and castings expose workers to respirable silica dust.
Pre-employment, periodic and exit — the full RCS lifecycle.
Crystalline silica health monitoring is a lifecycle program, not a one-off appointment. KINNECT runs each worker through the full pre-employment, periodic and post-employment cadence, with a single record that follows them across deployments.
- 1Baseline
Pre-employment
A baseline RCS medical is conducted before a worker enters a silica-exposed role. All future results are compared against this baseline to detect any change in lung function over time.
- 2Typically annually
Periodic
While the worker remains in a silica-exposed environment, periodic RCS medicals are conducted on a recurring schedule — annually under Safe Work Australia and WorkSafe WA frameworks; every 5 years under the RSHQ mineral mine and quarry scheme.
- 3Exit medical
Post-employment
A final RCS medical when the worker leaves the exposed environment, providing an exit baseline for the worker and a defensible closing record for the employer.
What’s in a standard RCS medical
- Respiratory function and past exposure questionnaire
- Medical examination with focus on the respiratory system
- Spirometry (lung function) test
- Chest X-ray (ILO-classified where required)
- Medical review and sign-off by an Appointed Medical Practitioner
- Comparison against the worker’s baseline result
Crystalline silica medicals — to the right framework, every time.
The standard you need to meet depends on the state, the industry and the regulator. KINNECT delivers RCS medicals to the relevant framework — and we’ll confirm the right one with you before the program starts.
- 01National
Safe Work Australia
Pre-employment, annual periodic, post-employment
- Crystalline silica classified as a hazardous chemical requiring health monitoring of exposed employees per the Hazardous Chemical Health Monitoring guide
- Pre-employment baseline includes spirometry, respiratory exam and ILO chest X-ray
- Periodic medicals annually while exposure continues
- Chest X-ray at periodic only if clinically indicated or 5+ years since last X-ray
- Post-employment medical conducted when the worker leaves the exposed environment
- 02Queensland
Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ)
Pre-commencement, periodic at least every 5 years, exit on request
- Applies to coal, mineral mine and quarry workers under the Mining and Quarrying Safety Regulation (1 Sept 2020 update)
- Respiratory health surveillance prior to commencement and at least every 5 years (unless risk is very low)
- Spirometry plus ILO chest X-ray dual-read by qualified Radiologists to the international standard
- Exit respiratory examinations on request when leaving the industry
- Free screening available to retired and former workers
- 03Western Australia
WorkSafe Western Australia
Pre-employment baseline, annual periodic (X-ray every 2 years)
- State-specific legislation introduced in 2020 for RCS-exposed workers
- Conducted on the WorkSafe WA paperwork at pre-employment and at the annual periodic
- Work and exposure history, respiratory questionnaire and physical examination
- Initial chest X-ray at pre-employment, then every 2 years
- Spirometry at every assessment, with sign-off by an Appointed Medical Advisor
Not sure which framework applies? Call our team on 1300 546 632 — we’ll confirm against your industry, jurisdiction and exposure profile.
In-clinic or onsite — whatever fits your workforce.
Crystalline silica medicals can be delivered in a KINNECT-owned clinic, a vetted partner clinic, or mobilised onsite for high-volume programs. Results are returned digitally so your team can act immediately.
In-clinic
Book individuals or small groups into a KINNECT-owned clinic or one of our vetted partner clinics nationally — including remote and regional mining and resources towns. Same-week appointments are standard in most metro markets.
Onsite mobilisation
For large workforces or remote sites, KINNECT mobilises clinicians and equipment to your location — minimising downtime, travel and out-of-pocket cost. Ideal for tunnelling, construction and mining campaigns where a full periodic round needs to happen in a tight window.
Find a KINNECT clinic near you.
Explore our current clinic locations. Service availability varies by clinic, so contact us to confirm the right location for this service.
Queensland
New South Wales
Victoria
Western Australia
South Australia
Northern Territory
Frequently asked questions about RCS medicals.
Who needs a Respirable Crystalline Silica medical?
Any worker who is, or may be, exposed to respirable crystalline silica dust as part of their role — including roles in tunnelling, mining, quarrying, construction labouring, engineered stone fabrication, abrasive blasting and foundry casting. Safe Work Australia classifies crystalline silica as a hazardous chemical that requires health monitoring of exposed employees.
How often should an RCS medical be conducted?
Under the Safe Work Australia framework, the recommended cadence is a pre-employment baseline, an annual periodic medical while exposure continues, and a post-employment medical when the worker leaves the exposed environment. Under the RSHQ mineral mine and quarry scheme, the periodic medical is required at least every 5 years. WorkSafe WA requires an annual periodic medical with a chest X-ray every 2 years.
What's included in a crystalline silica medical?
A standard RCS medical includes a respiratory function and past exposure questionnaire, a medical examination focused on the respiratory system, a spirometry (lung function) test, a chest X-ray (ILO-classified where the framework requires) and medical review and sign-off by an Appointed Medical Practitioner.
Which regulatory frameworks does KINNECT deliver against?
KINNECT delivers crystalline silica medicals to Safe Work Australia, Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) and WorkSafe Western Australia requirements. If you operate across multiple states, we will confirm the right framework for each worker before the program begins.
Can KINNECT deliver RCS medicals onsite?
Yes. KINNECT delivers RCS medicals nationally through our owned clinics and vetted partner network, and mobilises clinicians onsite for larger workforces, remote sites and time-pressured periodic rounds.
Who reviews and signs off the results?
Every RCS medical is reviewed and signed off by KINNECT's in-house Occupational Health Doctors, who hold membership with the Royal College of General Practitioners and a competency level 4 in health surveillance for hazardous substances, including RCS.
Other Health Monitoring services KINNECT delivers.
RCS medicals are one piece of a broader health surveillance program. Explore sister services or visit the full Health Monitoring category.
Asbestos Medicals
Health monitoring for workers with asbestos exposure — aligned to national requirements.
Learn moreLead Health Monitoring Medicals
Biological and clinical monitoring for workers exposed to inorganic lead.
Learn moreQueensland Coal Board Medicals
Statutory CMWHS medicals for Queensland coal mine workers, including respiratory surveillance.
Learn moreNSW Order 43 Coal Mine Workers Medical
Coal Services Order 43 statutory health monitoring for NSW coal mine workers.
Learn morePeriodic Health Monitoring & Health Surveillance
End-to-end hazardous substance and noise surveillance programs across the workforce.
Learn more
Keep your workers’ respiratory health on track.
Start a Respirable Crystalline Silica health monitoring program with KINNECT — pre-employment, periodic and exit medicals delivered nationally, to the right framework, with results reviewed by our in-house Occupational Health Doctors.
Practical legislative guidance
Turn workplace exposure obligations into a clear next step.
Use these employer resources to understand health surveillance requirements, choose the right monitoring point and investigate exposure-specific considerations.
Health Surveillance Guide
Understand when health surveillance is required and how a program supports workplace controls.
Open resourceHealth Monitoring Types Guide
Compare baseline, periodic, post-exposure and exit health monitoring.
Open resourceHazardous Exposure Directory
Find monitoring considerations for workplace hazards and hazardous substances.
Open resource