Australia’s grain sector has urged WorkSafe Victoria to halt proposed reductions to workplace exposure limits (WELs) for key fumigants, warning the changes could disrupt supply chains and threaten Australia’s export competitiveness.
In a submission to WorkSafe Victoria’s Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS), GTA said it supports strong worker safety protections but opposes adopting revised limits for phosphine and methyl bromide under a new national framework led by Safe Work Australia.
The revised framework enabled regulators to review more than 700 hazardous substances in a single process, amending 278 exposure limits. Previously, a review of one substance would take 2.5 years. GTA said the streamlined approach improved administrative efficiency but reduced substance-specific scientific assessment, feasibility analysis and industry consultation.
GTA is not aware of any evidence of systemic worker safety failure in the grain industry’s use of phosphine and methyl bromide over the past 50 years. The organisation claims the proposed limits rely heavily on guidance from the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, which GTA says is not designed for regulatory enforcement and is disputed in some overseas jurisdictions.
The RIS estimates total costs to Victorian employers of $6.3 billion over 10 years, compared with $2.9 billion in benefits, but does not break down impacts for specific chemicals. GTA contends that for grain businesses, the changes would increase compliance and monitoring costs, delay grain shipments, and risk domestic and export market access.
GTA warned that tighter exposure limits without further scientific review and industry consultation could severely disrupt the grain supply chain, which handles more than 45 million tonnes annually.
The submission calls on WorkSafe Victoria to delay adopting the revised limits for phosphine and methyl bromide, undertake further scientific review, and consult more extensively with industry before proceeding. GTA will also engage with Safe Work Australia and other state health regulators on this issue.
GTA’s submission is available to read on the website
