Be Aware - Silicosis Is Back and Bad

The case of 27 year old Cameron Harper who has been diagnosed with Silicosis is a lesson for us all. His disease has been linked to lax health and safety standards. As a stonemason he wasn't provided with the proper PPE - clearly the responsibility of his employer. Silicosis, the disease caused by exposure to crystalline silica, is associated with elevated risk of cancer and severe pulmonary fibrosis disease and has been in the news recently due to calls for a national response to protect tradesmen. Are you doing everything you need to do to protect your staff?

Most alarmingly, against world trends, there has been a spike in new cases of life-threatening silicosis reported in Australia. This rise in numbers of Silicosis prompted the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand to issue an alert in November 2017. "This resurgence in occupational lung diseases should have clinicians, tradespeople and industry on alert. These are diseases we thought had almost been eradicated, but thanks to exposure to high levels of dust and poor control measures they're resurfacing," said Professor Allan Glanville, President of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand.

Professor Granville also said "To make matters worse, the disease progression is much faster than we've seen before, and the people affected much younger. We need a national response. Occupational lung diseases are entirely preventable diseases that should not be occurring in modern Australia."

This statement puts employers on notice: silicosis is a debilitating occupational disease, readily prevented and its prevention is clearly within the employers' WHS/OHS duty of care.

Employers should take note of what Theodora Ahilas, National Practice Leader and Principal of the Asbestos and Dust Diseases Department at legal firm, Maurice Blackburn told news.com.au in July 2017. She said that the firm was currently representing 12 clients with silicosis caused by exposure to man-made stone. "Two years ago we had nil such clients so … that's quite a spike in that area," she says.

Silica Is a National Issue

In September last year, we issued a Bulletin informing you that Silica, SiO2, is a national issue which goes way beyond mining as it's one of the most common compounds present in sand and other products used in construction and manufacturing.

We know that Crystalline Silica (SiO2) can cause fibrosis of the lung, which in severe cases can be disabling or even fatal. Exposure remains a serious threat to countless Australian workers in high risk jobs such as abrasive blasting, foundry work, stonecutting, rock drilling, quarry work and tunnelling.
 
However, in the past, less attention has been given to worker's exposure in construction where uncontrolled jack hammering, concrete and block, brick and paver cutting, tuck pointing and tunnelling have all been recognised as potential SiO2 exposure risks.

Regulations

Schedule 9 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (2017) and Schedule 14 of Work Health and Safety Regulations list Crystalline Silica as a hazardous substance requiring health monitoring. Furthermore, if there is uncertainty (based on reasonable grounds) around whether the exposure standard is or may be exceeded, atmospheric monitoring must be carried out.
 
To meet your OHS/WHS obligations, you need to identify situations in your workplace where SiO2 exposure is a hazard, assess the risk and, where necessary, control the exposures to the required levels in accordance with the prescribed control hierarchy.

Spirometry Testing is the mainstay for the screening and management of workers at risk of occupational lung disease. It should be performed on all employees who are potentially exposed to irritant dusts, gases and vapours in the workplace and are at risk of occupational lung disease. Our trained and skilled technicians provide on-site Spirometry Testing using equipment and methods that comply with the latest standards and guidelines. More information.