Doctors Demand Tougher Workplace Chemical Limits

0:00I'm Corey, and this is your pulse of the city, Sydney News Today. Doctors are pushing for stronger protections against nine workplace chemicals they call silent killers. Leading lung specialists say, current exposure limits are too high and fail to keep workers safe. The government's own regulator, Safe Work Australia, agrees and recommends much tougher standards after two reviews. These chemicals include benzene, formaldehyde, respirable crystalline silica, and others like chlorine and hydrogen sulfide. Workers in demolition, construction, tunneling, nursing, and medical labs face the biggest risks. Proposed changes would cut benzene exposure, five-fold slash chlorine, tinfold, and half silica limits to 0.025 mg per cubic meter. Lung doctors warn these substances cause cancer, lung disease, and nerve damage. They stress exposure should ideally be zero, with no compromises on cancer risks. Six groups, including the Cancer Council and Lung Foundation, issued a joint call to act now after five years of delays.

1:07Industry groups push back, saying the new limits are impossible to measure accurately or comply with. Cement and aggregates leaders note they already screen workers, but lack tech for such low levels. Compliance could cause businesses 2.5 billion dollars over 10 years, excluding mining. Meanwhile, workplace relations minister Amanda Rishworth says the government is carefully considering the recommendations and prioritizes worker. Safety. Our responses do by months end, but it needs agreement from states and territories to take effect. This episode is proudly sponsored by our partner. Some people meditate. I just lay down and press play. S-O-L-I-S-O-L-P-L-O dot com.