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Incident Overview
An ABC investigation published on 27 July 2026 reported that tunnel workers on major Australian infrastructure projects were repeatedly exposed to silica dust levels above the workplace standard. The report concerned air-monitoring records, leaked WorkSafe notices and analysis of more than 100,000 pages of material, rather than one isolated accident.
The records described exposures across projects including Brisbane’s Cross River Rail, tunnel work in New South Wales and sites in Melbourne. The figures and conclusions below are attributed to the records and analysis reported by the ABC.
Workplace, Location and Time
The reported locations included six Cross River Rail sites in Brisbane, other New South Wales tunnel projects and Melbourne projects. The Cross River Rail material covered 375 air-monitoring results collected across 2020 and 2021. The ABC report was published on 27 July 2026 and did not identify a single incident time.
Worker and Incident Details
Occupational hygienist Kate Cole analysed the released Cross River Rail data and reported that workers were exposed above the standard at least 55 times, with one breach reaching 11 times the limit. The report said some monitoring occurred when tunnels could not be accessed, outside high-dust activity or when work was reduced. Contractors and the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority said safety and compliant monitoring were priorities.
Injuries or Fatality
The report described silica as capable of causing serious disease, including silicosis and lung cancer. It profiled tunnel worker Liam Carew, aged 46, who had been diagnosed with silicosis and progressive massive fibrosis after 20 years working underground. The source did not make a court finding that a particular project caused his condition.
Emergency and Regulator Response
The records were obtained after Queensland information-access proceedings. The ABC reported that contractors challenged release of the material before the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal, which ultimately ruled in Ms Cole’s favour. The Queensland Office of Industrial Relations did not respond to the ABC’s request for comment. The source also reported that regulators can compel projects to provide monitoring information.
Investigation or Court Update
The available report concerned disclosure, monitoring and workplace-health evidence; it did not report a final prosecution or finding against a named contractor. The information should not be read as proof that every worker at every project was exposed or that a particular illness was caused by a particular site. General workplace-injury information is available from workers compensation lawyers.
Sources