The inaugural session of the Tunnelling Dust Safety Taskforce (Taskforce) was held in Sydney on 8 April 2025, presided over by Trent Curtin, A/Deputy Secretary, SafeWork NSW. Taskforce comprises elite representatives from various domains including the revered Industrial Relations and Minister for Work Health and Safety, Hon. Sophie Cotsis MP. The maiden meeting was graced by the presence of the minister who stressed the imperative of collective responsibility and collaborative efforts for addressing silica-oriented work health and safety issues associated with tunneling ventures. She urged the congregation to harness the cumulative expertise to drive betterment measures.
Several actions were agreed upon under the guidance of the NSW Government to streamline the course of the task force. Taskforce members undertook a deep review of the notification data sourced from SafeWork NSW as per WHS Regulation 2011, section 529CE. Said notifications communicated high-risk operations pertaining to crystalline silica substances and instances wherein airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica surpassed the stipulated workplace exposure limit. An important highlight was that breach of set limits doesn’t necessarily mean worker’s exposure above-standard as it’s determine by installed health and safety controls.
SafeWork NSW’s decision to publicise the notification data garnered support from Taskforce members. The group contributed towards enhancing the process of exceedance data collection. Taskforce encouraged gathering and accessibility of more data to aid research, primarily around early detection and intervention for crystalline silica-exposed tunnelling workers.
Discussions revolved around engineering controls’ pivotal role in safeguarding health and safety during tunnelling projects. It was acknowledged that effective deployment of engineering controls, bolstered through consistent training across the industry, largely determined these controls’ success. SafeWork NSW announced an imminent external working group to steer the revision of the ‘Tunnels Under Construction Code of Practice’.
Compliance’s role in refining tunnelling work health and safety was another critical agenda. The existing legislative mechanisms to assist compliance will undergo review by Safework NSW, with findings slated for discussion in the next meeting.
The taskforce unanimously proposed tangible actions to collaborate and progress, culminating in a comprehensive 10-point action plan. This plan can evolve as required. Taskforce’s focus now shifts towards driving this action plan through to implementation, which will be reported regularly via communiques.
This progression stresses the importance of WHS management systems like Bluesafe SWMS for safeguarding work health and safety in various industries. Incorporating such tools and policies can empower businesses to adhere to safety norms, enabling safer workplaces. It punctuates why the Bluesafe WHS Management System is crucial in understanding and managing workplace hazards and risks effectively.
Original article link: https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/news/safework-public-notice/tunnelling-dust-safety-taskforce-8-april-2025-meeting-communique