New Dust and Chemical Restrictions Spark Concerns Over Practicality

Farmers and miners in Western Australia are expressing concerns about new workplace safety rules that will reduce accepted exposure levels of dust and certain chemicals from December 1. The changes, designed to protect workers, have industry groups warning that some new limits are so low they may be impossible to measure.

Impact on Grain Industry

West Australian Grain Group chair Alastair Falconer said farmers were alarmed by the new rules, particularly the 80 per cent reduction in the safe exposure limit for the fumigant phosphine.

"It's concerning, and I'm not sure if there's equipment that can measure such [new] low levels," he said.

Mr Falconer said the grain industry relied on phosphine to keep insects out of stored or exported grain, but the new rule "almost renders phosphine unusable".

The new exposure limits for grain dust, including oats, wheat and barley, have been more than halved. Mr Falconer said the industry was scrambling to find information on how to measure grain dust exposure and comply with the new regulations.

"To be honest, I wasn't aware of what our grain dust limits were until now," he said. "When we're blowing down harvesters, we're cleaning out our own silos, what exposure is that giving us, how do you measure exposure when you're blowing down a harvester, and what's the correct PPE to use to make sure you don't go over this new limit."

"I think we need a three-year delay on implementing [the new rules] while industry can do more research on are these levels appropriate, or how we manage them into the future?"

Rules to Protect Workers

In a statement, Safe Work Australia said workplace exposure limits were used to protect workers and the revised limits reflect current scientific evidence and independent expert advice.

"Safe Work Australia recognises there are questions about how limits for phosphine and other airborne contaminants are applied in practice and is working with industry stakeholders and other government agencies, including the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, to support a consistent understanding of the requirements,"

Safe Work pointed to more information on its website.

Mining Industry Concerns

Association of Mining and Exploration Companies chief executive Warren Pearce said Safe Work had taken a "blanket" approach, which was not always practical to implement.

"It's important for workplace safety and worker safety, but in some cases it doesn't take into account the challenges of certain ore bodies or certain minerals," he said. "There are issues in minerals such as manganese, we're concerned we won't be able demonstrate that we can get beneath that limit because there's not an ability to measure at that level."

Minerals Council of Australia CEO Tania Constable said the proposed changes had significant implications across a range of Australian industries.

"This is an opportunity to ensure health objectives and all technical, scientific and implementation considerations are fully assessed before any final decisions are made and recognises the complex science and the practical ability of the minerals industry and other sectors to implement these limits,"

The new standards will be implemented by states legislation.