New regulation amendments established to help further protect workers from silicosis
WHS ministers have recently agreed to two sets of amendments to the model WHS Regulations which help protect workers from silicosis.
The following article is an abridgement of an article originally published on the SafeWork Australia website.
Two new amendments
On Friday 10th May, WHS ministers approved amendments to the model WHS Regulations aimed at safeguarding workers against silicosis, a lung disease caused by exposure to respirable crystalline silica.
These changes enact a ban on engineered stone starting from July 1, 2024, and introduce stricter regulations for all materials containing crystalline silica from September 1, 2024.
The amendments comprise two main components: the creation of national frameworks for implementing the engineered stone ban and the reinforcement of regulations for materials:
- First set of amendments include 2 new national frameworks surrounding the engineered stone ban; one for notifying WHS regulators about permitted work with legacy engineered stone, and the other; for applications for exemptions for certain types of engineered stone from 1st July 2024.
- The second set of amendments will involve to stronger regulation of all materials containing crystalline silica, from 1st September 2024.
Resources and guides on the changes
Each jurisdiction is required to incorporate these amendments into their respective work health and safety laws. To assist in understanding these changes, resources such as a dedicated website detailing the ban, including a timeline, transitional arrangements, jurisdiction-specific resources, and FAQs, are available.
Guidance materials are also being developed to aid PCBUs in comprehending how the amended regulations will impact them.
For further details, the meeting Communique published by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations provides additional insights into the WHS ministers' discussions.
To read the original announcement on the SafeWork Australia website click here.
Sources
New model WHS Regulations will help protect workers from silicosis by Safe Work Australia, 14th May, 2024.
