The New South Wales government has announced the formation of a new expert taskforce to tackle the growing health risks associated with silica dust exposure among workers in Sydney’s extensive tunnelling projects. This initiative follows increasing concerns from unions, health experts, and industry stakeholders about the deadly impact of silica dust, which has been a significant health hazard for workers in underground construction over the past decade.
Silica dust, which is prevalent in the sandstone layers beneath Sydney, is linked to serious and often fatal lung diseases such as silicosis, cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The introduction of the taskforce aims to address these risks and enhance monitoring and safety measures for workers involved in tunnel construction.
NSW Premier Chris Minns emphasized the government’s commitment to tackling the issue, describing the diseases caused by silica exposure as “horrific” and stressing the urgency of action. “The way in which people lose their lives through these dust diseases is horrific,” Minns said. “It’s terrible for them, it’s shocking for their families, and we’re going to do everything we can about it. It’s a killer, and we don’t try to minimize it.”
A Decade of Exposure
Over the last ten years, massive tunnelling projects in Sydney, including the construction of road and rail tunnels, have employed tens of thousands of workers. These projects have consistently churned up large amounts of silica dust, which poses a significant risk to the workers involved.
However, the announcement of the taskforce comes after growing criticism that the issue was not addressed sooner. Experts warn that the long-term health effects of silica exposure may not be fully realized for decades. Unions and health professionals are particularly concerned about the workers already exposed to high levels of silica dust, many of whom may not show symptoms until they reach their retirement years.
The taskforce, which will bring together government officials, medical experts, industry representatives, and union members, aims to improve compliance with safety standards, enhance health monitoring, and ensure timely notification when safety breaches occur.
Lack of Transparency and Monitoring
Chris Donovan, Assistant Secretary of the Australian Workers Union (AWU), expressed concern over the lack of transparency regarding past exposures to silica dust. He criticized the current monitoring systems, which he described as inadequate and outdated. “Back in the day, coal miners used to put a canary down in the coalmine to get an indication about whether or not air was breathable or safe. That’s actually better real-time monitoring than what we have today,” Donovan said.
The taskforce was formed after revelations from a parliamentary inquiry exposed that thousands of workers on Sydney’s tunnelling projects had been exposed to “high levels” of silica dust for at least seven years. Documents obtained through Freedom of Information laws revealed that one-third of air quality tests during the construction of the Metro City and Southwest projects exceeded legal limits. On some occasions, up to 8% of workers were not wearing proper respiratory protection.
SafeWork NSW, the state’s workplace health and safety regulator, has been criticized for providing advance notice of inspections, which Donovan argues allows companies to prepare and potentially conceal unsafe practices. “We really need SafeWork inspectors to show up unannounced so they can get to the bottom of how bad this dust exposure is,” Donovan said.
Long-Term Health Risks
Occupational physician Dr. David Allen highlighted the long-known dangers of silica exposure, emphasizing that companies should have taken action years ago. “It’s entirely foreseeable that if you’re tunnelling through sandstone, you’re going to get silica in the air, and it’s going to eventually cause silicosis and death,” Dr. Allen said. “The only way of preventing it is preventing it at the source.”
Health experts warn that the long-term effects of silica exposure may take decades to manifest. Lung Foundation Australia CEO Mark Brooke cautioned that many workers may not show symptoms until much later in life. “History tells us that airway diseases can take a long time to appear,” Brooke said. “We may not see many of these tunnel workers being diagnosed until their retirement years.”
Despite these concerns, Sydney Trains, which operates much of the city’s rail network, reassured the public that worker safety is a top priority. A spokesperson for the organization stated that they actively monitor silica levels and work with contractors to reduce risks whenever tests show that exposure limits are exceeded.
Conclusion
The newly formed taskforce represents a critical step in addressing the widespread risks faced by workers involved in tunnelling projects. While unions and health professionals express cautious optimism, they stress that more urgent action is required to protect workers and prevent further exposure to harmful silica dust. The challenge now lies in ensuring that the recommendations and actions taken by the taskforce result in meaningful change and better protection for workers moving forward.
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