Occupational lung diseases remain a priority for Safe Work Australia. Significant work has been undertaken to help improve the health and safety outcomes for in Australian workers in relation to occupational lung diseases. However, it is clear that more needs to be done to reduce exposures to hazardous airborne chemicals and reduce the unacceptable incidence of occupational lung diseases in Australian workers.

This revised Occupational Lung Diseases Work Plan will guide Safe Work Australia’s WHS policy initiatives for occupational lung diseases into the future. For 2022, there is a particular focus on the review of workplace exposure standard for airborne contaminants, respirable crystalline silica and asbestos.