Consultation Regulation Impact Statement - Managing the risks of respirable crystalline silica

Overview

This Consultation Regulation Impact Statement: Managing the risks of respirable crystalline silica at work (CRIS) has been developed to seek feedback from stakeholders and the general public on the impact of regulatory and non-regulatory options to manage the risks of respirable crystalline silica at work. The options outlined in this paper have not received approval by WHS ministers and are not yet law. As a result, this paper is merely a guide as to how the options address the problem and might be implemented.

The options in the paper do not expressly consider a ban on engineered stone. This is because the National Dust Disease Taskforce’s Final Report recommended a ban be considered if “there is no measurable and acceptable improvement in regulatory compliance rates for the engineered stone sector as reported by jurisdictions and evidence indicates preventative measures are not effectively protecting those working with engineered stone from silicosis and silica-associated diseases”. The all of Australian Governments’ response to National Dust Disease Taskforce’s Final Report recognised that “… a comprehensive framework [is required] to evaluate the effectiveness of compliance with WHS duties and the effectiveness of measures to protect workers, including any further measures implemented following [this] regulatory impact analysis process”. However, your views on a product ban can be provided through this consultation.

Interested parties are invited to comment on the options outlined in this consultation RIS. The consultation process is open until 15 August 2022, with the objective of gathering additional evidence and data on the extent of the problem and to seek views on the impact of the proposed options. To assist with making a submission, there are several targeted consultation questions to consider when making a submission. There is no obligation to answer any or all of the consultation questions, and there is no limit to the length of submissions. Additional options can also be presented for consideration

Consultation questions that you may consider in your response are included throughout the document and are listed in Appendix C.

Your views and supporting evidence will be used to inform development of a decision regulation impact statement which will be provided to WHS ministers to assist them to decide the course of action to be taken to manage the risks of exposure to RCS at work.

Submissions are requested by 11.59 pm on 15 August 2022.

If you are unable to lodge your submission using Engage, please email, occhygiene@swa.gov.au.

If you are planning to make a submission via email or mail, please fill out a cover sheet.

This is not required if you are making a submission online via the Engage portal.

Respondents may choose how their submission is published on the Safe Work Australia website by choosing from the following options:

• submission published
• submission published anonymously, or
• submission not published.

For further information on the publication of submissions on Engage, please refer to the Safe Work Australia Privacy Policy and the Engagement HQ privacy policy.

Enquiries can be directed to: Director, Occupational Diseases and Hygiene Policy by email: occhygiene@swa.gov.au.