The workplace exposure standard (WES) for respirable coal dust has been reduced from 3 mg/m³ to 1.5 mg/m³.

This resource outlines what additional actions you must take if your work involving silica dust is assessed as high risk.

This resource lists what to include in a silica risk control plan.

This resource outlines how to manage the risks from silica dust by using the hierarchy of control measures.

This resource covers what you must consider to assess the risks of exposure to silica dust at your workplace.

This resource outlines work activities that can produce silica dust.

This resource defines crystalline silica and respirable crystalline silica or silica dust, including how the dust is created and silica related diseases.

Flowchart for identifying and managing risks from exposure to crystalline silica.

This resource provides a summary of key changes to the regulation of crystalline silica substances in the model WHS Regulations from 1 September 2024, and how these changes affect workplaces.  

A one page summary of the Engineered stone prohibition: Guidanc

Where to go for more information about the engineered stone ban and your WHS obligations.

The process of applying for an exemption from the engineered stone ban, as specified in the publication,

The definition of engineered stone as used in the publication,

A list of the key terms used in the publication, Engineered sto

A flowchart of the process PCBUs must follow to notify WHS regulators of work involving legacy engineered stone.

A flowchart of the process PCBUs must follow to apply for an exemption of an engineered stone product.

Safe Work Australia has published new guidance to assist persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) understand their work health and safety obligations relating to the engineered stone ban, which comes into effect on 1 July 2024.

This is the model form for PCBUs to notify the relevant WHS regulator when they intend to undertake the repair, minor modification, removal, or disposal of legacy engineered stone (permitted work with legacy engineered stone).

This document provides guidance to assist PCBUs understand their obligations under the WHS Regulations in relation to the engineered stone ban.

The workplace exposure standard (WES) for welding fumes (not otherwise classified) has been reduced from 5 mg/m³ to 1 mg/m³.

In May 2023, Safe Work Australia commissioned the University of Adelaide to undertake a literature review and gap analysis of the scientific evidence to inform recommendations related to the three options for prohibition on the use of engineered stone in Australia.

This Decision Regulation Impact Statement (Decision RIS) provides an analysis of the impact of a prohibition on the use of engineered stone under the model WHS laws.

Quotes attributable to Safe Work Australia CEO Michelle Baxter:

“I welcome the decision by WHS ministers to agree to Safe Work Australia’s recommendations on action to reduce workplace exposure to respirable crystalline silica and prevent silicosis and silica-related diseases in Austral

The workplace exposure standard (WES) for coal dust (containing less than five per cent quartz) (respirable dust) has been reduced from 3 mg/m³ to 1.5 mg/m³.

Safe Work Australia is calling for public submissions on how to best manage the respirable crystalline silica (silica dust) in Australian workplaces.

We are seeking feedback from stakeholders and the general public on the impact of regulatory and non-regulatory options to minimise exposures to respirable crystalline silica at Australian workplaces.

This page provides checklists, information sheets and case studies on occupational respiratory diseases for the manufacturing industry.

This page provides checklists, information sheets and case studies on occupational respiratory diseases for the engineered stone sector.

This page provides checklists, information sheets and case studies on occupational respiratory diseases for the construction industry.

This page provides checklists, information sheets and case studies on occupational respiratory diseases for the agriculture industry.

Air monitoring might be needed to make sure that your workers are not exposed to airborne concentrations of a substance above the workplace exposure standard.

Managing work health and safety risks is on ongoing process that requires your attention over time, but particularly when changes to work processes are implemented.

A persons conducting a business or undertaking have a duty under the model WHS laws to eliminate, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise health and safety risks in the workplace so far as is reasonably practicable.

Risk management is a proactive process that helps you respond to change and facilitate continuous improvement in your business. It should be planned, systematic and cover all reasonably foreseeable hazards and associated risks.

Sam Hamilton, Director Occupational Diseases and Hygiene Policy presenting to the Australasian University Safety Association.

Occupational lung diseases are work-related lung conditions of the respiratory system. 

Sam Hamilton, Director Occupational Diseases and Hygiene Policy presenting to the Australasian University Safety Association.

Video Summary:

Sam Hamilton, Director Occupational Diseases and Hygiene Policy presenting to the Australasian University Safety Association.

An information sheet about coal workers’ pneumoconiosis and mine dust diseases including the symptoms, causes and risk factors as well as information for persons conducting a business on undertaking on how to manage these risks at work.

Occupational lung diseases are a major work health and safety concern in Australia. Safe Work Australia’s Clean Air. Clear Lungs. campaign aims to raise awareness of the dangers of occupational lung disease to protect workers from breathing in hazardous air. 

An information sheet about Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease including the symptoms, causes and risk factors as well as information for persons conducting a business on undertaking on how to manage these risks at work.

An information sheet about Q fever including the symptoms, causes and risk factors as well as information for persons conducting a business on undertaking on how to manage these risks at work.