The Minns Labor Government is taking another important step to protect workers against dust diseases, by strengthening the safety code of practice for tunnel construction.
Tunnelling can be a vital part of building public transport infrastructure yet poses risks to workers including silica dust exposure from the rock and sandstone being tunnelled through. It is vital that workers are protected.
The existing Tunnels Under Construction Code of Practice hasn't been reviewed since 2006.The NSW Government is opening consultation on a new code of practice via the Have Your Say website, with industry and union stakeholders invited to make submissions until 28 November 2025.
Since January 2024 to present, SafeWork NSW has conducted over 100 site inspections in tunnelling sites in the Sydney metro area.
Tragically, there have been 516 cases of silicosis and 36 deaths due to the disease in NSW since 2017.
The draft updated code of practice has been developed in consultation with an industry and social partners working group and covers many aspects of tunnel construction. Proposed updates to the code include:
- Managing silica risks using appropriate controls with a strong focus on the use engineering controls including adequate ventilation.
- The inclusion of ventilation officers and certified occupational hygienists in tunnelling as best practice measures. This inclusion is consistent with recommendations from the 2024 Review of the Dust Diseases scheme.
- Managing psychosocial hazards such as remote working which is often a feature of tunnelling.
- Tunnel boring machine content to account for changing industry practice and the move away from using explosives to tunnel.
The Minns Labor Government will analyse Have Your Say contributions and continue to consult with industry and unions before finalising the new code.
Eliminating the risks associated with silica is a high priority for the Minns Government. Other initiatives include:
- Leading 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.
- Establishing the Silica Worker Register to monitor and track the health of workers undertaking high-risk processing of crystalline silica substances (CSS).
- Establishment of the Tunnelling Dust Safety Taskforce to help address silica related health risks in tunnelling projects. The Taskforce is made up of Government, medical, industry and union representatives and provides expert guidance on the prevention of silica and other dust-related diseases, 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.
- Committed $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).
- Committed $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.
