A national meeting of Commonwealth, State, and Territory work health and safety Ministers has endorsed significant national action to combat dust diseases related to the inhalation of crystalline silica dust.
At the national meeting held in Canberra today:
- Ministers supported the Commonwealth Government urgently exploring a ban on the importation of engineered stone, including consultation with stakeholders on the effects of a ban.
- Ministers agreed to implement a national campaign, in partnership with employers and unions, to raise awareness about the dangers of silica dust exposure and educate businesses and workers about how to control the risks of exposure in the workplace.
- Ministers agreed that new regulations will be developed by the end of 2023 to manage high-risk crystalline silica processes across all industries, including requirements for additional training, air monitoring, and reporting excess exposure to health and safety regulators.
- Ministers agreed that further analysis and consultation will be undertaken on a potential ban on the use of engineered stone, as well as a potential national licensing regime. This work will be completed by the end of 2023.
- Ministers also agreed that if engineered stone is not banned, a national licensing scheme should be considered.
Ministers will meet again this year to discuss the progress and implementation of these actions, and have agreed that silicosis will be a standing agenda item at future national meetings.
These meetings recognise that silicosis is a rapidly growing problem across Australia which requires urgent and coordinated national action from all levels of government, industry, and unions.
The South Australian Government welcomes this national agreement to protect the health and safety of workers and the community, which follows the Government’s support last year for a parliamentary inquiry to investigate a ban on exposure to crystalline silica dust in South Australia.
The South Australian Government will continue to actively participate in this important national work and consider what further steps are required to protect the health and safety of the South Australian community.
Quotes
Attributable to Kyam Maher
We know silicosis is a rapidly growing problem across Australia. Given Australia’s experience with asbestos nobody wants to be in the position of looking back at this issue in 20 years’ time and saying ‘we could have done more’.
While the dangers of engineered stone have been well publicised, this affects other industries like mining, quarrying, and tunnelling. The actions agreed to today recognise that silica dust exposure is a safety risk right across the supply chain.
We have agreed to support ongoing analysis and consultation on a potential ban on the use of engineered stone and a national licensing regime, to be completed by the end of 2023.
The South Australian Government will allow some time for that work to be done, but I want to be clear – the option is absolutely on the table for us to go it alone and pursue a ban on a state level if there is no national action by the end of the year.
We will always act in the best interests of the South Australian community.
