Companies will be required to register all workers within 28 days from the date the person starts work.
Processing of a crystalline silica substance involves tasks such as cutting, drilling, grinding or polishing.
Silica dust-induced diseases such as silicosis, are caused by inhalation of very fine crystalline silica dust particles, with workers at greatest risk in the tunnelling, mining and construction, and engineered stone industries.
Since January 2024 more than 100 site inspections have been undertaken in tunnelling sites in the Sydney metro area. Since 2018, SafeWork NSW inspectors have conducted more than 5,200 workplace visits related to silica.
SafeWork NSW has issued 2,496 improvement notices, 181 prohibition notices and 33 penalty notices related to silica dust across industries.
There have been 516 cases of silicosis and 36 deaths due to the disease in NSW since 2017.
In 2024, the Australian Workers Union warned of a potential silicosis “tsunami” for Sydney Metro tunnellers.
The NSW government set up a Tunnelling Dust Safety Taskforce to help address silica related health risks for workers in tunnelling projects. It also established a silica unit within SafeWork NSW which includes a Silica Compliance Team to enforce strengthened regulations, including visits to sites conducting high-risk CSS processing.
Minister for work health and safety Sophie Cotsis said the government was committed to ensuring workers were safe and the new Silica Worker Register was an important step in the fight against silicosis.
“The new register will help us target high risk areas, minimise exposure, inform health screening services and improve health outcomes for workers across the state,” she said.
