Safe Work Australia Public Consultation

CRITICAL INFORMATION PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING

Safe Work Australia recently developed a Decision Regulation Impact Statement: Managing the risks of respirable crystalline silica at work

Decision RIS analysed the impacts of regulatory and non-regulatory options to manage the risks of respirable crystalline silica at work.

At the recent COAG meeting in February, WHS ministers agreed to:

• Implement National awareness and behaviour change initiatives.
• Implement regulation of high-risk crystalline silica processes for all materials (including engineered stone) across all industries.
• Further analysis and consultation on prohibition of use of engineered stone including consideration of silica content levels and other risk factors, and a national licensing system for products that are not subject to a ban or legacy products.

Safe Work Australia have been tasked to review three options for a ban on the use of engineered stone.

1. Prohibition on the use of all engineered stone described in Option 6 of the Decision RIS;
2. Prohibition on the use of engineered stone containing 40% or more crystalline silica, and;
3. Prohibition on the use of engineered stone containing 40% or more crystalline silica and licensing of PCBUs working with engineered stone containing less than 40 % crystalline silica.

Your participation in the consultation process is absolutely critical.

We implore you to have your say on important matters related to OUR industry.

Responses should highlight specific efforts made by you to create a safer work environment along with supporting data. For example,

• An overview of how you have improved the Safe handling of silica-based products in the last 10 years.
• The investment you have made in safety.
• Air monitoring and how you manage exposure to silica dust.
• How you comply with your obligations to standards.
• Education programs.
• Installation processes and how you apply your safe systems of work.
• Economic benefit of your business (employment, capital investment, brand etc).

Submissions are requested by 11:59pm AEST 2 April 2023.

For any support or assistance please contact Kim Smith National EHS Manager on 0427 159 126.