Australian farmers and miners ask to delay standards — ABC News Australia
In Australia, farming and mining associations are asking for new workplace safety rules due to take effect on December 1, 2026, to be amended or delayed. As ABC News Australia reports, the rules lower permissible exposure levels for dust, fumes and chemicals, but industry representatives believe that some of the new limits will be difficult to measure and comply with in practice.
The new system of workplace exposure limits covers more than 600 substances, with standards tightened for about 250 of them. These levels determine the maximum amount of a pollutant in the air to which exposure should not harm the health of most workers. The standards were agreed by work health and safety ministers and published in April 2024, while states are to introduce them through their own legislation.
Farmers’ concerns
Alastair Falconer, chairman of the West Australian Grain Group, said the permissible exposure level for phosphine for workers will be reduced by 80%. Phosphine is used to protect stored or exported grain from insects. According to him, the new standard could make the use of the substance nearly impossible, while the availability of equipment to measure such low levels is in doubt.
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Falconer also said that limits for grain dust, including oat, wheat and barley dust, will be cut by more than half. Agricultural groups warn of possible difficulties during harvesting and propose delaying the introduction of the rules for three years to study their practical implementation.
The regulator’s and mining industry’s position
Safe Work Australia said the revised standards are based on current scientific evidence and independent expert recommendations. The regulator noted that compliance with the limits will be checked through personal air monitoring for workers, rather than measuring pollutants at a fixed point. According to the agency, public consultations were held in 2019–2021.
Mining associations have also asked authorities to amend the rules or delay their introduction. Warren Pearce, head of the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies, believes that a single approach does not take into account the characteristics of different ore bodies and minerals, including manganese. In August, WorkSafe Victoria postponed the application of limits for 15 airborne contaminants, including phosphine, until December 1, 2029.
