NSW’s safety watchdog is under scrutiny for its response to union concerns.

In an unfolding controversy surrounding workplace safety management in New South Wales, the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) has criticised SafeWork NSW for what it describes as an “incredibly lazy and hands-off approach” to workplace safety. 

The critique comes in the wake of a report by the NSW Auditor-General, which highlights significant failings in the agency's response to the emerging threat of lung diseases caused by engineered stone dust.

For many, the report is evidence of a concerning trend that sees serious workplace injuries on the rise, while complaints are increasingly dismissed as less critical. 

CFMEU NSW state secretary Darren Greenfield says the findings validate the union's long-standing concerns regarding SafeWork NSW's lax approach to safety regulations.

Adding to the controversy, a UK-based company, Trolex Group, has come forward to defend its dust-monitoring device, the Air XS, which was promoted by SafeWork NSW despite internal doubts about its effectiveness. 

Trolex Group's CEO, Glyn Pierce-Jones, has criticised SafeWork for conducting an “unscientific and poorly designed test” on the device, arguing that the initial testing was conducted on an uncalibrated prototype and did not adhere to the device's manual. 

Trolex insists on the reliability of their product, despite its referral to the NSW corruption watchdog over concerns related to the procurement process of the device.

SafeWork NSW says it “welcomes the findings of the McDougall report and the NSW Government’s commitment to the establishment of a stand-alone regulator”.

SafeWork NSW faces significant challenges ahead, with an additional 73 inspectors required to reach the minimum standard of one inspector per 10,000 workers. 

NSW Work Health and Safety Minister Sophie Cotsis has acknowledged the need for more inspectors but notes that funding allocations would need to undergo the budgetary process.

The revelations from the NSW Auditor-General's report paint a concerning picture of SafeWork NSW's effectiveness and responsiveness to work health and safety risks, particularly regarding the handling of respirable crystalline silica exposure in the workplace. The report calls for an independent investigation into the procurement process for the Air XS device and a comprehensive review of SafeWork NSW's risk management and quality assurance measures.

As SafeWork NSW commits to acting on the auditor-general's recommendations, industry experts and OHS professionals are closely watching the unfolding situation.