AWU Praises Govt on Silica Safety, Vows to Keep Up Momentum

The Australian Workers' Union has commended Employment Minister Tony Burke and his state and territory counterparts for driving their meeting toward new nationwide laws that will help mitigate widespread silica dust exposure among those employed in tunnels, quarrying, and mining. The AWU has long pushed for regulatory change for high-risk crystalline silica process in all industries, compulsory training for workers and companies to be forced to undertake regular air monitoring, with breaches reported to work health and safety regulators. This was agreed to by the meeting of ministers today. It was accompanied by a requirement for workers to undertake silica awareness training. "Today is a historic step forward for everyone who has campaigned for tougher laws on silica exposure," said AWU National Secretary Daniel Walton. "So many brave workers have stepped forward to tell their story, despite many facing incredibly challenging circumstances in their personal lives. Their courage and their generosity has helped drive this outcome today. I've started to receive messages from silicosis victims who are overwhelmed to hear that progress is happening. "For far too long, major construction companies, like John Holland, have been able to get away with a shoddy, inadequate, and frankly unethical approach to silica dust management on site. They have blocked union officials from bringing dust monitors underground. And they've regularly sent workers into tunnels with poor ventilation and dangerous levels of dust. "These laws would go a long way toward forcing a change of behaviour and a change of culture in tunnelling. "However we are not there yet. The AWU has been fighting for this change for many years and we will not rest on our laurels now. Far too often powerful vested interests are able to throw sand in the gears of our political process to delay — or even prevent — reform for workers' safety. "But they should know our union won't rest until these laws are in place and our members are protected when they do their vital work underground."