Thirteen Sydney Tunnel Workers Diagnosed with Silicosis as Safety Failures Emerge

Regulatory investigation reveals widespread silica dust exposure and lapses in workplace safety measures on major tunneling projects.

Thirteen workers, including a 32-year-old, from Sydney's M6 tunneling project have been diagnosed with silicosis, a potentially fatal lung disease caused by silica dust inhalation.
SafeWork NSW discovered that CPB Contractors failed to report 12 of these cases, prompting an ongoing investigation into the company's safety practices.
Reports reveal that silica dust exposure levels on Sydney tunneling sites have frequently exceeded safety standards since at least 2017, with limited regulatory enforcement or prosecutions.
The NSW government has introduced a silica compliance taskforce and pledged 'zero tolerance' for unsafe conditions, but critics argue regulatory actions remain insufficient.
The Australian Workers Union accuses SafeWork NSW of inadequate oversight and collusion with contractors, citing pre-announced inspections and a lack of legal consequences for safety breaches.