Attachment 3: Overview of National and State and Territory Work Health and Safety Activities Key activities, achievements and improvements introduced by WHS regulators The Commonwealth, states and territories are responsible for implementing and enforcing WHS laws in their jurisdiction. To ensure nationally-consistent WHS laws across all jurisdictions, model WHS laws were developed to provide a consistent legislative framework for implementation by each jurisdiction. The model WHS laws, maintained by Safe Work Australia, have been implemented in all jurisdictions except Victoria and Western Australia, although those jurisdictions have similar laws in place. Western Australia has passed a new WHS Bill based on the model WHS Act, which is expected to commence later in 2022. Since 2018, Australian WHS regulators have undertaken substantial activities to reduce exposure to respirable crystalline silica and the incidence of silicosis. This has included education and awareness campaigns, compliance and enforcement initiatives, improvements in clinical diagnosis, and the introduction of codes of practice and amended WHS regulation.
Workplace Exposure Standards for respirable crystalline silica Workplace Exposure Standards are the airborne concentrations of a chemical that are not expected to cause adverse effects on the health of an exposed worker. In 2019, WHS Ministers agreed to reduce the eight-hour time weighted average for workplace exposure for respirable crystalline silica from 0.1 mg/m3 to 0.05 mg/m3, commensurate with levels set internationally. As of 8 June 2021, all jurisdictions, except Tasmania, have implemented the reduced value. Ministers also agreed that further work be conducted on solutions to measurement limitations of respirable crystalline silica, with the aim to further reduce the Workplace Exposure Standard to a time weighted average of 0.02 mg/m3.
Ban on dry-cutting, grinding and polishing While an express ban on uncontrolled dry cutting of engineered stone with power tools has not been implemented in all jurisdictions, it is not permitted under WHS laws as dry cutting would immediately exceed the new Workplace Exposure Standard (and would otherwise breach the general duties of the WHS Act). On-tool water suppression or dust extractors (or local exhaust ventilation if on-tool dust extraction is not reasonably practicable) and respiratory protective equipment must be used. Safe Work Australia Members have agreed to amend the model WHS regulations to expressly prohibit uncontrolled dry cutting of engineered stone.
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National Dust Disease Taskforce
