Consultation aims to enhance safety of silica workers in NSW

A public consultation is currently in progress regarding the structure and extent of a new register in New South Wales aimed at monitoring and tracking the health of workers who face risk due to exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust.

Introduction of the silica worker register aims to improve health screening services for vulnerable workers, mitigate consequences of silica dust exposure, and avert onset of illness. This initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen crystalline silica dust safety across high risk industries.

Who Is Being Consulted?

The New South Wales Government invites input from the community through the Have Your Say platform, specifically targeting feedback from both current and former employees and employers in the construction, manufacturing, mining, and tunnelling sectors.

Input received will assist in aligning the silica worker register with requirements of the industry while safeguarding both workers and the broader community across Australia.

Why Monitoring Matters for High Risk Workers

Ongoing monitoring of health outcomes helps identify risk early, allowing control measures to be adjusted before conditions worsen. Workers in construction and tunnelling roles face elevated risk when engineering controls and safe work practices fall short.

Establishing a dedicated silica worker register gives regulators a clearer picture of exposure patterns across high risk workplaces, supporting better-targeted intervention and long-term risk reduction.

SafeWork NSW Oversight

SafeWork NSW oversees the consultation process and will thoroughly evaluate all feedback provided. Their involvement ensures the register reflects practical realities faced on construction sites, in manufacturing facilities, and within tunnelling operations, rather than being designed in isolation from industry experience.

For related updates on regulatory activity affecting the sector, see our coverage of the joint agency blitz targeting NSW building site safety and the farm safety training program supporting agricultural workers.

Supporting Safer Workplaces

Employers can strengthen their own risk management approach while this consultation continues, ensuring existing controls remain fit for purpose. Reviewing current workplace health and safety documentation, including electrical safety measures such as our Electrical Safety Policy or Electrical Safety Checklist, alongside broader Workplace Safety Rules, remains a practical step toward comprehensive risk control.

Businesses seeking digital tools to manage compliance obligations may also benefit from exploring dedicated Safety Software solutions designed to streamline documentation and reporting.

Further information can be found here.