The Australian Workers Union is calling for a suite of workplace safety reforms to be introduced in a bid to tackle the silicosis crisis.

Chris Minns has pledged to ban products containing more than 40 per cent of crystalline silica by 2024 if elected, as well as introduce tougher regulations for high-risk industries.

The Australian Workers Union says added safety requirements are necessary, with silica exposure a frequent risk for workers other than stone benchtop manufacturers.

Union secretary Daniel Walton told Ray Hadley workers grinding through sandstone in tunnels under Sydney encounter parts with “contents of up to 90 per cent” of silica.

“We can’t stop tunnelling, we’re not going to do that, we’re not gonna stop quarrying and we’re not going to stop other workers in mining,” he said.

“We need better protections in place so that workers just aren’t exposed to the deadly dust when they’re going about their business.”

See more highlights from Ray Hadley below: