In response to the ongoing crisis, unions are calling for reforms to extend the prosecution window for companies responsible for exposing workers to hazardous silica dust from two to five years.

The inquiry has uncovered significant safety failures on multibillion-dollar Sydney infrastructure projects, revealing that some workers were exposed to silica dust levels 208 times above the legal limit.

Confidential documents have shown that 13 workers on the M6 Stage 1 roadway have been diagnosed with silicosis, an incurable lung disease linked to silica exposure.

A parliamentary inquiry in New South Wales is investigating the alarming issue of dangerous silica dust exposure faced by tunnel workers, signaling a potential occupational disease crisis in Australia.

A 2023 investigation by the Herald, The Age, and 60 Minutes led to bans on engineered stone products containing more than 1% silica due to the health risks posed to tradespeople.

There is growing anger towards SafeWork NSW for failing to hold contractors accountable, despite clear evidence of repeated breaches of legal dust limits at tunneling sites.

Officials from the Australian Workers Union have argued that companies have systematically neglected worker safety and are now demanding that unions be permitted to prosecute regulators for negligence.

During the inquiry, representatives from major contractors, including John Holland and CPB, acknowledged past errors but maintained that existing occupational protections were sufficient, attributing excess silica exposure to lapses in safety controls.

Occupational hygienist Kate Cole criticized the delayed adoption of high-tech personal protective equipment, emphasizing that full-face air purifying masks, available for 16 years, were not widely used due to cost concerns rather than availability.