Safety Bulletin - January 2026
Australia – Dust disease – Report for engineered stone ban review released
Safe Work Australia has released the report of its review into the engineered stone prohibition. The review found that the ban is working as intended, but made 6 recommendations for immediate action and 11 findings requiring more investigation. Recommendations include making a standard testing criteria to determine if products are engineered stone, improving marketing and labelling of engineered stone and alternative products, amending the WHS Regulations to allow legacy engineered stone to be reinstalled, and creating guidance for disposal of engineered stone and silica.
Australia – Critical infrastructure – Critical infrastructure risk management amendments proposed – Open for comment until 13 Feb
The Australian Government is proposing amendments to the Security of Critical Infrastructure (Critical infrastructure risk management program) Rules (LIN 23/006) 2023 and has published a discussion paper. Feedback is sought on enhancing the requirements for high-risk asset classes in the energy, communications, water and sewerage, and transport sectors. Comments close 13 February 2026.
Western Australia – Dangerous goods – Dangerous goods safety reforms proposed – Open for comment until 27 Feb
WorkSafe WA has released a consultation regulatory impact statement outlining proposed reforms to the Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004 and its Regulations, and is seeking stakeholder feedback. The proposed changes focus on improvement and modernisation of the Act, improving alignment with existing work health and safety legislation and allowing for more effective enforcement. A new manslaughter offence will also be introduced to the Act, as well as provisions for enforceable undertakings, increasing protections for dangerous goods officers, and updating fines and penalties. Further proposed changes suggest combining several general regulations for dangerous goods into a single set of regulations. Comments close 27 Feb 2026.