The New South Wales government’s workplace safety regulator has refused to release the most recent data on silica dust exposure so as to protect the reputation of major construction companies.

Tunnel construction workers in Australia’s most populous state were repeatedly exposed to dangerous levels of respirable crystalline silica on major government projects between 2016 and 2020, historical air quality readings show. More recent data would likely show that this exposure is ongoing, but the state safety regulator has refused to release it.

TfNSW released 948 measurements, of which 318—more than one third—exceeded 0.1mg/cc. In 80 of those cases, workers had no personal protective equipment. Some of the readings were as high as 10.4mg/cc.