New register to monitor health of silica-exposed workers across manufacturing, mining sectors

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Image credit: nsw.gov.au

The NSW Government has launched a new Silica Worker Register (SWR) to improve health monitoring and protect workers involved in high-risk crystalline silica substance (CSS) processing across industries including manufacturing, construction, mining, and tunnelling.

Under the new Work Health and Safety Amendment (Silica Worker Register) Regulation 2025, businesses will be required to register all workers engaged in high-risk CSS processing – such as cutting, drilling, grinding, or polishing – within 28 days of commencement.

Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said the register represents an important step in the state’s efforts to combat silicosis and related dust diseases.

“The Minns Labor Government is committed to ensuring workers across the state are safe at work and the new Silica Worker Register is an important step in the fight against silicosis,” Cotsis said.

“The new register will help us target high risk areas, minimise exposure, inform health screening services and improve health outcomes for workers across the state.”

Since 2018, SafeWork NSW inspectors have conducted more than 5,200 workplace visits related to silica, issuing 2,496 improvement notices, 181 prohibition notices and 33 penalty notices. 

The NSW Government reported there have been 516 cases of silicosis and 36 deaths from the disease in NSW since 2017.

SafeWork NSW Commissioner Janet Schorer said the register will help ensure that at-risk workers receive appropriate health monitoring.

“The silica worker register is a valuable measure to ensure at-risk workers are receiving health monitoring and that any changes to an individual worker’s health are detected as early as possible,” Schorer said. “This is an important step in the fight against silica-related illnesses.”

Icare CEO Geniere Apin said the program builds on collaboration to strengthen workplace protections.

“Together with SafeWork, we’re helping employers meet their obligations and protect workers’ health,” Apin said.

The register forms part of a broader suite of safety measures introduced by the NSW Government, including a ban on engineered stone products containing one per cent or more crystalline silica, the creation of the Tunnelling Dust Safety Taskforce, and the establishment of a dedicated silica compliance unit within SafeWork NSW.

Australian Workers’ Union NSW Branch Secretary Tony Callinan welcomed the initiative, noting its importance for long-term worker health.

“This register is about protecting workers for the long haul,” Callinan said. “A silica register will mean no worker falls through the cracks. Whether they’re on a tunnel site or in manufacturing, employers and government will now have no excuse not to act to prevent silicosis.”

More information about registration requirements is available on the SafeWork NSW website.