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Tuesday, Mar 18, 2025
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Health Crisis Emerges as Workers Contract Silicosis During Sydney Tunnel Construction
Thirteen workers diagnosed with silicosis prompt calls for regulatory action and safety enforcement in the construction industry.
The Australian Workers' Union (AWU) has raised alarms regarding a severe health crisis affecting workers at the construction site of Sydney's M6 tunnel, where 13 individuals have reportedly been diagnosed with silicosis, a potentially fatal lung disease.
This information was revealed through documents presented in the New South Wales (NSW) parliament.
The emergence of these health issues has prompted AWU assistant national secretary Chris Donovan to demand immediate prosecutions by SafeWork NSW, the state’s workplace health and safety regulator.
Donovan emphasized the need for accountability, stating that the high incidence of silicosis among workers as young as 32 should be a catalyst for action against those responsible for maintaining unsafe working conditions.
Silicosis is caused by inhaling fine silica dust, a common hazard in construction, particularly in tunneling operations.
The disease progressively damages lung tissue, leading to severe breathing difficulties and can result in death.
Donovan characterized the situation as a 'complete betrayal' of the workers, asserting that the disease is preventable and highlighting the long-term impacts on the affected individuals, who may face a lifetime of health challenges including the possibility of requiring lung transplants.
He further criticized the response from both tunneling companies and regulatory bodies, asserting that they have been aware of dangerous levels of silica dust since 2017 but have failed to take significant action to protect workers.
'The fact that we have workers being diagnosed with a fatal lung disease while companies continue to operate with impunity is a damning indictment of our regulatory system,' he stated.
CPB Contractors, the primary contractor for the M6 tunnel project, issued a statement clarifying that while some employees received a confirmed diagnosis of silicosis, this does not necessarily indicate that they contracted the disease while working for CPB.
The contractor pointed out that tunneling workers often have varied careers, engaging in multiple projects across different industries.
SafeWork NSW confirmed that investigations into the silicosis cases involving CPB workers are ongoing.
The agency reiterated that any contractors who expose their employees to hazardous levels of silica are in violation of the law.
NSW Minister for Work Health and Safety, Sophie Cotsis, expressed her concern for the affected workers and reinforced the government's commitment to enforcing safety regulations strictly.
Cotsis stated, 'We have a zero tolerance policy for any employer exposing workers to unsafe levels of silica,' and urged SafeWork NSW to act decisively.
In a significant move to mitigate such health risks, Australia became the first country globally to impose a ban on engineered stone, a material linked to high incidences of silicosis among workers due to its silica content.
The M6 tunnel's stage one is designed to extend from Kogarah, a suburb in Sydney’s south, and integrate into the broader M8 tunnel network.
This information was revealed through documents presented in the New South Wales (NSW) parliament.
The emergence of these health issues has prompted AWU assistant national secretary Chris Donovan to demand immediate prosecutions by SafeWork NSW, the state’s workplace health and safety regulator.
Donovan emphasized the need for accountability, stating that the high incidence of silicosis among workers as young as 32 should be a catalyst for action against those responsible for maintaining unsafe working conditions.
Silicosis is caused by inhaling fine silica dust, a common hazard in construction, particularly in tunneling operations.
The disease progressively damages lung tissue, leading to severe breathing difficulties and can result in death.
Donovan characterized the situation as a 'complete betrayal' of the workers, asserting that the disease is preventable and highlighting the long-term impacts on the affected individuals, who may face a lifetime of health challenges including the possibility of requiring lung transplants.
He further criticized the response from both tunneling companies and regulatory bodies, asserting that they have been aware of dangerous levels of silica dust since 2017 but have failed to take significant action to protect workers.
'The fact that we have workers being diagnosed with a fatal lung disease while companies continue to operate with impunity is a damning indictment of our regulatory system,' he stated.
CPB Contractors, the primary contractor for the M6 tunnel project, issued a statement clarifying that while some employees received a confirmed diagnosis of silicosis, this does not necessarily indicate that they contracted the disease while working for CPB.
The contractor pointed out that tunneling workers often have varied careers, engaging in multiple projects across different industries.
SafeWork NSW confirmed that investigations into the silicosis cases involving CPB workers are ongoing.
The agency reiterated that any contractors who expose their employees to hazardous levels of silica are in violation of the law.
NSW Minister for Work Health and Safety, Sophie Cotsis, expressed her concern for the affected workers and reinforced the government's commitment to enforcing safety regulations strictly.
Cotsis stated, 'We have a zero tolerance policy for any employer exposing workers to unsafe levels of silica,' and urged SafeWork NSW to act decisively.
In a significant move to mitigate such health risks, Australia became the first country globally to impose a ban on engineered stone, a material linked to high incidences of silicosis among workers due to its silica content.
The M6 tunnel's stage one is designed to extend from Kogarah, a suburb in Sydney’s south, and integrate into the broader M8 tunnel network.
