Australia is currently leading the way for the protection of workers against silicosis with the newly enforced engineered stone ban.
With National Safe Work Month kicking off in October, Lung Foundation Australia is on a mission to break the silence and stigma surrounding this deadly disease. Silicosis is a lung disease that has the potential to affect 600,000 Australian workers.
READ MORE: Australia leading the way with ban on engineered stone importation
“While the recent ban on engineered stone marks a significant step forward in protecting workers from silica dust, there’s still more work to be done,” Lung Foundation Australia CEO Mark Brooke said.
“There is an ongoing need for awareness, better education, and a cultural shift in how we address workplace lung health.”
What is silicosis?
Once a relatively unheard-of occupational lung disease, silicosis has had an unprecedented re-emergence as a result of the popularity of engineered stone.
This material contains 90 per cent or more silica dust, a crystalline dust that can create permanent scarring on the inside of your lungs when inhaled. It’s incurable, and entirely preventable.
But engineered stone isn’t where silicosis ends. Other materials that contain silicosis include sand and sandstone, concrete and mortar, granite, demolition dust, and manufactured stone, all which continue to be used by tradies and miners across the country.
Key findings from the survey
- 78 per cent are aware of silica dust and the risk of silicosis, but only 23 per cent are worried about developing the lung condition
- 36 per cent are aware of the symptoms of silicosis, with awareness rising to 73 per cent among those who know someone with the disease
- 34 per cent of respondents understand that silicosis is incurable, with older Australians showing a higher level of knowledge
- 49 per cent of respondents think about their lung health when engaging in activities that could affect it, such as working in environments with dust exposure
- 23 per cent are aware that silicosis can be asymptomatic
- 8 per cent have discussed silicosis or lung health with their GP or medical practitioner; this increases to 45 per cent amongst those that know someone with silicosis
- Respondents who knew someone with silicosis were more aware of which materials contain silica dust than those who were only aware of silicosis.
Referred to as the ‘new asbestos’, workers continue to be exposed to silica dust despite the engineered stone ban in the form of sand and sandstone, granite, manufactured stone, concrete and mortar, demolition dust, limestone, and more.
Lung Foundation Australia encourages workers and employers alike to maintain a focus on silicosis, even as regulatory changes reduce exposure risks. Ensuring that those at risk of silicosis are well-informed and comfortable seeking medical advice will be key to managing the disease in the future.