Work Health and Safety Amendment (Information Exchange) Act 2020
The Act establishes an information-sharing framework between NSW Health and SafeWork NSW for notifications of certain occupational dust diseases and establishes a Dust Diseases Register.
The Work Health and Safety Amendment (Information Exchange) Act 2020 was passed by Parliament on 22 October 2020 and came into effect on 27 October 2020.
The Act establishes an information-sharing framework between NSW Health and SafeWork NSW for notifications of certain occupational dust diseases and establishes a Dust Diseases Register, which will be kept by SafeWork NSW. SafeWork NSW will publish an annual report on the Dust Diseases Register on its website. The Act also gives NSW Health broad information-sharing powers with NSW WHS regulators, and requires SafeWork NSW to conduct a case-finding study to investigate crystalline silica exposure in the manufactured stone industry.
These changes are intended to give WHS regulators the information they need to address the rise of silicosis in NSW and to protect workers from other occupational dust diseases. For more information see SafeWork’s pages on working safely with crystalline silica and asbestos.
Read the Act.