Insights from the Australian Worker Exposure Survey 2026

The Australian Worker Exposure Survey (AWES 2026) provides a national picture of work-related hazard exposure. The findings provide valuable insights into work-related hazard exposure across Australia, including the most common hazards, where exposure is concentrated, and the workers most at risk.

Workers’ likely exposure to a range of physical and chemical hazards was estimated based on the tasks they complete at work and their use of controls.

Psychosocial hazard exposure was measured using workers’ self-reported experiences at work.

Key findings

Exposure overview

Exposure overview: 68 percent, or 10.2 million workers had exposure to at least one hazard agent based on around 15 million employed people in Australia in the ABS Labour Account, December quarter 2025. 28.9 percent of these workers were exposed to at least one agent at a hight level, 17.1 percent were exposed at medium level, and 22.0 percent were exposed at low level.

Proportion of workers with multiple exposures

Proportion of workers with multiple exposures: 68 percent of workers had exposure to at least one hazard agent. 18.6 percent were exposed to one agent. 10.9 percent were exposed to two agents. 8.7 percent exposed to three agents. 7.6 percent were exposed to four agents. 22.2 percent were exposed to five or more agents.

Highest rates of workers with multiple exposures (five or more hazard agents):

Industry

Construction: 68.2%
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing: 60.1%
Mining: 60.0%

Occupation

Construction Trades Workers: 82.1%
Construction and Mining Labourers: 81.4%
Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers: 74.6%

Worker profiles and workplace characteristics:

In general, exposure to hazards is more common among:

younger workers
men
people working outside capital cities
workers in more disadvantaged areas (SEIFA quintile 1), and
with Advanced Diploma/Diploma/Certificate qualifications.

Apprentices and trainees were more likely to be exposed to many hazards including:

heat at work (51.1%)
silica (35.7%)
lead (17.0%), and
asbestos (13.7%)

One in ten workers (12.3%) agreed (often or all the time) that if they needed help while working, it would be difficult to get it.

Exposure to agents

High-risk agents have an important focus due to health impacts and where exposure is concentrated.

Solar UV - 34% of workers exposed (about 4.87 million workers)

Workers exposed to Solar UV include:

21.0% at a medium level, and
6.8% at a high level.

Exposure is concentrated in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (74.8%) and Construction (67.5%).

Heat at work - 29.9% of workers exposed (about 4.49 million workers)

Workers exposed to heat at work include:

11.9% at a medium level, and
7.2% at a high level.

Exposure is concentrated in Mining (64.3%) and among Skilled Animal, Agricultural and Horticultural Workers (70.9%).

Diesel engine exhaust - 26.3% of workers exposed (about 3.95 million workers)

3.7% of workers are exposed to diesel engine exhaust at a high level.

Exposure is concentrated in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (72.8%) and Mining (71.5%).

Silica - 13.6% of workers exposed (about 2.04 million workers)

5.0% of workers are exposed to silica at a high level.

Exposure is concentrated in the Construction (71.8%) and Mining (63.8%) industries, and among Construction and mining labourers (89.9%) and Construction trades workers (86.2%).

Lead - 3.8% of workers exposed (about 571,000 workers)

0.7% of workers are exposed to lead at a high level.

Exposure is concentrated in the Construction (19.9%) industry and among Construction Trades Workers (38.9%).

Welding fumes - 3.7% of workers exposed (about 556,000 workers)

0.3% of workers are exposed to welding fumes at a high level.

Exposure is concentrated in Manufacturing (13.9%) and among Automotive and Engineering Trades Workers (43.3%).

Asbestos - 2.6% of workers exposed (about 391,000 workers)

Exposure is concentrated in the Mining industry (22.1%) and among Machine and Stationary Plant Operators (19.6%).

Many workers are exposed to combinations of hazard agents:

Of those who are exposed to Ocular¹ UV, Solar UV exposure also occurs for:

91.0%

Of those who are exposed to Solar UV, Ocular UV exposure also occurs for:

91.6%

Of those who are exposed to Heat at Work:

Ocular UV exposure also occurs for:

64.7%

Solar UV exposure also occurs for:

64.8%

Of those who are exposed to Styrene², the proportion exposed to other agents is:

Heat at work

67.1%

Ocular UV

70.2%

Benzene

66.9%

Diesel exhaust

78.1%

Solar UV

65.2%

¹Exposure of the eyes to UV radiation
²A chemical used for manufacturing plastics and synthetic rubber

Psychosocial hazards

Many workers experience the following often or all the time: tight deadlines or pressure (37.3 percent), emotionally demanding work (33.9 percent), are exposed to traumatic situations or material (13.6 percent), and verbal abuse, threats or violence (8.9 percent).

The proportion of workers that say they experience tight deadlines or pressures often or all the time is higher in the following industries:

Financial and Insurance Services (47.2%)
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (46.3%), and
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services (45.0%).

Many workers reported generally positive conditions for clarity and support:

94.4% agree they have clarity of duties, and
84.0% agree they receive support to work safely.

There was also strong agreement among workers that they:

have a say in how and when their work is done (71.8%)
feel informed about changes at work (70%), and
consider that people in their organisation are treated fairly (69.9%).

About the survey

The AWES 2026 provides a national picture of work-related hazard exposure:

Survey of 6,617 workers aged 15 years and over
Mixed-mode methodology
Probable exposure to key agents assessed using the Occupational Integrated Database Exposure Assessment System (OccIDEAS)
Key agents included chemicals, metals, solvents, radiation, products of combustion, dusts, heat at work and shift work
Psychosocial hazard exposure assessment aligned to model Code of Practice: Managing psychosocial hazards at work. Measured using workers’ self-reported experiences at work.