Host Lish Fejer is joined by Certified Occupational Hygienist Kate Cole OAM and WorkSafe ACT Commissioner Jacqui Agius to discuss dangerous substances like asbestos and crystalline silica, and why these exposures remain major contributors to work-related disease and death in Australia. Most often encountered in the construction industry, silica is common in materials like concrete, brick and stone which becomes hazardous when cut or grinded into fine respirable dust. Similarly, asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fibre that once damaged, disturbed or deteriorated can pose significant health risks. The conversation highlights long disease latency, cumulative exposure at work, uninformed exposure at home, and real enforcement examples in the ACT. They emphasise that asbestos- and silica-related diseases are preventable through eliminating exposure via safety-by-design, proactive asbestos removal and engineering controls like specialised equipment. Listeners are directed to Dangerous goods and hazardous substances – WorkSafe ACT for resources.