SILICOSIS RISK
736. Hon ALISON XAMON to the minister representing the
Minister for Industrial Relations:
I refer to recent revelations of
five confirmed cases of silicosis in Western Australia following exposure to
crystalline silica at work.
(1) Does the
minister support calls to lower the standard for workplace exposure to silica
dust over an average of eight hours from 0.1 milligrams per cubic metre down to
0.02 milligrams per cubic metre?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Does the
inspection program currently being undertaken by WorkSafe WA of workplaces
where stone cutting is performed include air monitoring and testing?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member for the question.
The following information has been provided to me by the Minister for
Industrial Relations.
(1) Yes. The
minister supported the reduction in the national exposure standard to 0.02
milligrams per cubic metre. However, Safe Work Australia decided to recommend
that the minimum exposure standard be 0.05 milligrams per cubic metre.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) Yes.
(4) Not applicable.