If your Sunshine Coast business handles hazardous chemicals in any form, including silica-containing materials common in construction, manufacturing and stonemasonry, there are two regulatory changes landing before the end of 2026 that are worth getting ahead of now rather than scrambling to catch up on later.
What's changing
Safe Work Australia has launched a new Hazardous Chemical Information System, replacing older classification and exposure resources with updated workplace exposure information. Alongside this, Australia is transitioning from Workplace Exposure Standards to the stricter Workplace Exposure Limits framework, with the new limits applying from 1 December 2026. Current exposure standards still apply until then, but businesses are expected to be preparing for the change now, not waiting until it takes effect.
On top of this, silica dust continues to be a national enforcement and awareness priority, with updated campaign materials and guidance aimed specifically at construction, demolition, manufacturing and stonemasonry businesses, exactly the industries well represented across the Sunshine Coast.
Why this applies to more businesses than you'd think
It's easy to assume hazardous chemical and silica obligations only apply to large industrial operations, but the coverage is broader than that. If your business involves any of the following, this is relevant to you:
- Cutting, grinding, drilling or polishing stone, concrete, brick or other silica-containing materials
- Manufacturing or processing that involves chemical exposure of any kind
- Storage or handling of chemicals that require a safety data sheet
- Renovation, demolition or construction work involving legacy materials
What to check before December
A few practical steps for Sunshine Coast businesses to work through now: review your chemical register against the new Hazardous Chemical Information System classifications, check current exposure monitoring against existing limits and identify where the tighter framework is likely to bite, confirm safety data sheets are current and match what's actually stored or used on site, review dust and silica controls including extraction, wet-cutting methods and respiratory protection where relevant, and update worker training and information to reflect current classifications and controls.
None of this needs to be a last-minute scramble. Businesses that get their chemical registers and exposure monitoring in order now will find the December transition a formality rather than a fire drill.
Get your chemical and dust controls checked
If you're not confident your hazardous chemical register, exposure monitoring or silica controls would hold up against the updated national requirements, an audit now is far cheaper than a corrective action later.
Get in touch to talk through what an audit would look like for your site ahead of the December changes.