A recent study of 544 stone benchtop workers by Monash University has determined the prevalence of silicosis disease may be higher than expected.
Employers are mandated to test all workers at risk of silica exposure by way of respiratory function tests and /or chest x‑rays. Monash University screened the 544 workers using the same mandated testing and the completed secondary screening using high resolution CT to determine the accuracy of the current mandatory protocols.
They found 76 percent of workers needed secondary screening to confirm whether or not they had silicosis and 117 of those were diagnosed with silicosis as a result. Further, 72% of those diagnosed with silicosis had normal respiratory function tests.
Interestingly, those diagnosed were mainly between the ages of 35 and 50 and the average duration of work with engineered stone being 12 years and the shortest period being 3 years.
The testing further indicated the mandatory screening protocols do not detect the early signs of the disease, which is important as silicosis may not cause noticeable symptoms until late in the progression of the disease and therefore early detection is key.
Employers of those at risk of silica exposure are encouraged to invest in the health and safety of their employees by implementing polices that make it mandatory to at least have an x‑ray if not CT scan every 3 – 4 years. This will not only increase the likelihood of early detection in your workforce but will also reduce your potential liability further down the track for costly dust disease claims.
