Grain Trade Australia (GTA) has written to Safe Work Australia, federal, state and territory ministers, highlighting concerns about proposed reductions to Safe Work Australia (SWA) Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs) for phosphine.
The proposed changes, part of a broader review of over 700 hazardous substances, aim to improve regulatory efficiency. However, GTA warns that the newly introduced SWA streamlined process reduces substance-specific scientific review, feasibility assessment and industry consultation, particularly for critical fumigants like phosphine and methyl bromide.
Why this matters for the grain industry:
- Phosphine and methyl bromide are essential to maintain grain quality and meet export quarantine requirements.
- The industry has a long-standing record of safe fumigant use, supported by engineering controls, PPE, monitoring, training, and audits.
- The proposed WELs could cause major compliance costs, delays in grain fumigation clearance, and disruptions to domestic and export supply chains handling over 45 million tonnes annually.
- The framework used by regulators does not provide fumigant-specific cost–benefit analysis or feasibility assessment. A recent Victorian WorkSafe study estimated costs to Victorian employers from WEL changes of $6.3 billion over 10 years – aggregated across 700+ substances, not specific to phosphine or methyl bromide.
GTA urges SWA not to adopt the revised WELs at this time. Instead, GTA recommends:
- Further scientific review specific to phosphine and methyl bromide.
- Genuine consultation with the grain industry.
- Evidence-based, practical approaches that protect workers while ensuring efficient and resilient grain trade.
“The proposed changes pose significant risks to the grain supply chains, with minimal demonstrated safety benefit. GTA members are ready to work constructively with regulators to find proportionate solutions,” said GTA.
GTA continues to advocate for regulatory decisions that are scientifically sound, feasible to implement, and proportionate to the risks, ensuring worker safety while protecting a critical export industry.
