Minns Labor Government launches Silica Worker Register to further protect workers

Under the new Work Health and Safety Amendment (Silica Worker Register) Regulation 2025, persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) will be required to register all workers engaged in high-risk CSS processing as soon as reasonably practical and no more than 28 days from the date that the worker commences 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 mining and construction, tunnelling and engineered stone industries.

Since January 2024 to present, over 100 site inspections have been undertaken in tunnelling sites in the Sydney metro area.

While since 2018, SafeWork NSW inspectors have conducted more than 5,200 workplace visits related to silica.

Over this period, SafeWork NSW has issued 2,496 improvement notices, 181 prohibition notices and 33 penalty notices related to silica dust across industries.

Tragically, there have been 516 cases of silicosis and 36 deaths due to the disease in NSW since 2017.

Eliminating the risks associated with silica is a high priority for the Minns Government and the silica worker register is one of several measures which have been introduced to reduce the risks of working with CSS in NSW.

These include:

• The Minns Government has led the ban on engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs containing one per cent or greater crystalline silica. This included a national ban on its importation from January 1, 2025.
• Establishment of the Tunnelling Dust Safety Taskforce to help address silica related health risks for workers in tunnelling projects. The Taskforce is made up of Government, medical, industry and union representatives and provides expert guidance to prevent and manage silica and other dust related disease associated with tunnelling projects in NSW.
• The establishment of a dedicated silica unit within SafeWork NSW which includes a Silica Compliance Team to enforce strengthened regulations, including proactive visits to sites conducting high-risk CSS processing.
• $5 million in critical funding for silicosis research and a patient support program for individuals and their families navigating the health risks associated with exposure to silica dust. The grant funding, administered collaboratively by icare and the Dust Diseases Board, will be provided over three years to the Asbestos and Dust Diseases Research Institute (ADDRI).
• $2.5 million for a state-of-the-art Lung Bus which is currently travelling NSW to protect workers from dust diseases. The icare Lung mobile lung clinic provides specialised lung health assessments to current and retired workers who are at risk of developing a workplace dust disease, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis or silicosis.

For more information, including details on how to register and what information employers need to provide, visit the silica worker register notification page on the SafeWork NSW website:

https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/notify-safework/silica-worker-register-notification

Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said:

"The Minns Labor Government is committed to ensuring workers across the state are safe at work and the new Silica Worker Register is 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.

“The Silica Worker Register is another important step towards protecting workers from dust diseases and builds on the Government’s recent actions including the ban on engineered stone, the establishment of the Tunnelling Dust Safety Taskforce and a dedicated Silica unit within SafeWork NSW and the recent $2.5m investment into the icare Lung mobile clinic.

“Every worker has the right to go to work and return home safely.”

SafeWork NSW Commissioner Janet Schorer said:

“Workers who undertake high-risk processing of crystalline silica substances may be exposed to respirable crystalline silica dust, which can cause serious health issues, such as silicosis and lung cancer.

“The silica worker register is a valuable measure to ensure at-risk workers are receiving health monitoring and ensure any changes to an individual worker’s health are detected as early as possible.

“This is an important step in the fight against silica-related illnesses.

“SafeWork NSW continues to work with industry to ensure compliance with existing safety standards when working with crystalline silica.

“I call on all businesses to be aware of their legal obligations to register all workers who undertake high-risk processing of crystalline silica substances at their workplace.”

Icare CEO Geniere Apin said:

“The Silica Worker Register is an important step towards further strengthening workplace safety for those who work with respirable crystalline silica.

“Together with SafeWork, we’re helping employers meet their obligations and protect workers’ health.”

AWU NSW Branch Secretary Tony Callinan said:

“This register is about protecting workers for the long haul. Silicosis is a devastating disease that can take years to develop, and we owe it to every worker to make sure exposure is tracked and their health comes first.

“A silica register will mean no worker falls through the cracks. Whether they’re on a tunnel site or in manufacturing, employers and government will now have no excuse not to act to prevent silicosis.

“The AWU has been sounding the alarm on silica dust for years. Today’s announcement is an important win for worker safety, but it must be backed with strong enforcement and proper medical follow-up.”