Safety Alerts & Updates
For All Technicians – Australia-Wide
We’re proud to bring you the sixth edition of The Kraftsmen Safety Newsletter, wrapping up 2025 and reflecting on the topics that keep our teams safe across Australia
At The Kraftsmen, safety isn’t just a requirement it’s how we work. On every site, every state, every day.
In this edition, we look back at:
- Airborne contaminants – Silica, asbestos, and welding fume controls
- Mental health in the workplace – Supporting crews and managing psychological risks
- Hazard data & the Irreplaceable Campaign – Understanding workplace hazards and why every worker matters
Let’s finish the year by keeping safety front of mind, protecting each other, and carrying these lessons into 2026.
Airborne Contaminants: Silica & Asbestos
We covered how Safe Work Australia sets Workplace Exposure Standards, which define the legal limits for airborne contaminants at work. In 2025, the exposure limit for aluminium welding fumes was significantly reduced, meaning cleaner air and stronger controls are now required to protect long-term lung health.
Read more about Workplace Exposure Limits
We talked about respirable crystalline silica (RCS). A hazardous dust released when materials like concrete, stone, bricks, tiles, and engineered stone are cut, drilled, or ground. These fine particles can lodge deep in the lungs and cause serious, irreversible diseases.
In August 2025, Safe Work Australia released a new Code of Practice that provides clear, practical guidance on how to identify silica risks and control exposure. The focus was on knowing which tasks generate silica dust and making sure the right tools, dust controls, ventilation, and PPE are used every time.
Read more about silica risks and the Code of Practice
We highlighted the Queensland asbestos audit blitz, where inspectors checked that asbestos was properly identified and managed, particularly in older buildings. The focus was on having an asbestos register, a management plan, and workers who know what to do if suspect material is found.
Asbestos management requirements
Airborne contaminants are often invisible, but their effects are permanent. Everything we discussed this year comes back to one thing: know the hazard, control the risk, and protect your lungs.
Mental Health in the Workplace
We talked about psychological injuries and the reminder from WorkSafe QLD that they’re not always visible but they can impact people just as hard as physical injuries.
How teams respond in the moment matters. Early, supportive action can significantly improve recovery and help workers stay connected to their team. If someone shows signs of stress, burnout, or is struggling after an incident, speaking up early and getting the right support makes a real difference.
A WorkSafe QLD case study reinforced that worker-centred rehab and return-to-work plans lead to better outcomes and smoother transitions back to the job. The message was simple: listen early, support properly, and stay human.
Have a look at the case study here
We reinforced that work isn’t just about tools and tasks. Mental health affects safety, performance, and wellbeing. Mentally unhealthy workplaces experience higher stress levels, more time off, increased costs, and greater overall risk.
We encouraged practical, on-site actions:
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- Check in with your team regularly
- Talk early if someone doesn’t seem themselves
- Use the mental health toolkit to guide conversations and actions
Making mental health part of everyday conversations helps prevent injuries before they happen.
Irreplaceable Campaign
We talked about the Irreplaceable campaign from SafeWork NSW, which reminds us that every worker has the right to return home safe at the end of the day. You’re important at work and at home, you’re irreplaceable.
In NSW, an average of 52 work-related fatalities are reported each year, and more than 1,000 serious workers compensation claims are made each week. The campaign highlights that taking risks at work can have lasting impacts on workmates, families, friends, and the wider community. The focus is on starting conversations, understanding work health and safety rights and responsibilities, and creating workplaces that support both physical and psychological wellbeing.
We also looked at Safe Work Australia’s new Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset, an interactive resource that shows how different jobs are exposed to workplace hazards such as noise, awkward postures, chemical contaminants, and deadline pressure. The dataset allows you to explore hazards by job or risk type and create your own charts. Early insights show around 30% of occupations report weekly exposure to contaminants, over 79% involve regular deadline pressure, and many roles include noise exposure or awkward body positions. While the data is still experimental, it’s a useful tool for techs to explore which hazards are most relevant to their own role.
Read more and explore the Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset
Use these links to access safety rules, resources, and support in your state
NSW: safework.nsw.gov.au
QLD: worksafe.qld.gov.au
VIC: worksafe.vic.gov.au
WA: worksafe.wa.gov.au
SA: safework.sa.gov.au
TAS: worksafe.tas.gov.au
NT: worksafe.nt.gov.au
ACT: worksafe.act.gov.au
Written by Scarlett of The Kraftsmen
