The Western Australian Government has taken steps to reduce the risk of workers contracting potentially deadly lung diseases by halving the workplace exposure standards for respirable crystalline silica (which causes silicosis) and respirable coal dust.
Respirable crystalline silica may be generated by a range of work activities, including:
- the fabrication and installation of composite (engineered or manufactured) stone countertops;
- brick, concrete or stone cutting (angle grinding, jackhammering and chiselling);
- excavation, tunnelling, earthmoving and drilling operations;
- mining, quarrying and mineral ore treatment processes;
- clay and stone processing machine operations;
- paving and surfacing; and
- abrasive blasting and foundry casting.
Coal dust can cause coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, also known as ‘black lung disease’, which has resulted in the deaths of underground coal mine workers in Queensland. There are two open-pit coal mines in Western Australia.
Effective 27 October 2020, the workplace exposure standard for respirable crystalline silica has been halved to 0.05 milligrams per cubic metre and from 27 October 2021, respirable coal dust will be halved to 1.5 milligrams per cubic metre.
The reduction means that on average only half the amount of respirable silica or coal dust is allowed in the air where people are working.
Employers of workers with a risk of silicosis must provide health surveillance, and WorkSafe encourages appointed medical practitioners to provide information on the use of low-dose CT scans when screening at-risk workers.
Western Australian Industrial Relations Minister, Bill Johnston said WorkSafe’s inspection program has looked at more than 100 workplaces to ensure employers are aware of the risks from silica and their responsibilities under workplace safety laws.
“The McGowan Government takes prevention and early detection very seriously and is taking steps to minimise these risks,” he said.
“Employers must ensure the new limits are not exceeded.”