1,000 signatures reached
To: Amanda Rishworth, Sophie Cotsis, Ben Carrol, Jarrod Bleijie, Simone McGurk, Kyam Maher, Eric Abetz, Michael Pettersson, Robyn Cahill
Protect Welders Now, Back the New Aluminium Fumes Safety Limit
Safe Work Australia has formally recommended that the Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL) for aluminium welding fumes be reduced immediately from 5 mg/m³ to 1 mg/m³. This change brings the limit in line with the national standard already achieved for welding fumes (not otherwise classified) following strong and successful campaigning by AMWU members.
Delays will only lead to more preventable illnesses, long-term harm, and unsafe workplaces.
Delays will only lead to more preventable illnesses, long-term harm, and unsafe workplaces.
The science is clear. The solution is obvious. The time to act is now.
We are calling on Ministers to adopt Safe Work Australia’s recommendation in full, immediately, and without compromise.
We are calling on Ministers to adopt Safe Work Australia’s recommendation in full, immediately, and without compromise.
Why is this important?
Exposure to aluminium welding fumes causes cancer, irreversible lung damage, and neurological harm. An immediate reduction to the WEL is critical to protect workers.
Despite the evidence available about the risks, and the Safe Work Australia recommendation, there are employers and government bureaucrats who have suggested a delayed implementation or to forgo the change altogether.
We cannot allow political resistance or delay to come before the health and safety of workers.
Ministers can decide on this matter any time between now and 31 July 2025.
We need to make sure they hear directly from the people who are most affected. We need to make sure they hear directly from the people who are most affected – the workers and families who suffer the risks of exposure every day.
We need to make sure they hear directly from the people who are most affected. We need to make sure they hear directly from the people who are most affected – the workers and families who suffer the risks of exposure every day.
How it will be delivered
This petition will be delivered directly to the relevant Ministers.