Due to the rising number of Australian’s contracting silicosis and silica-related diseases, Work Health and Safety Ministers from around Australia and the Federal Employment and Workplace Relations Minister met in late February to discuss how they can reduce workplace exposure to respirable crystalline silica.
Ingesting crystalline silica dust has been found to cause life threating diseases such as silicosis, emphysema, asthma, lung cancer and auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma.
Silicosis in particular, is an incurable disease of the lung that can be debilitating due to its severe symptoms such as lung scarring, breathlessness, chronic immobility, and oxygen dependence. Unlike asbestos related diseases and exposure, silicosis symptoms can develop as quickly as one year after an individual has been exposed, however sufferers are usually diagnosed within 10 years.
During their meeting, the Ministers agreed exposure to crystalline silica has led to an ‘unacceptable’ spike in the number of Australian sufferings from silica related diseases and silicosis.
Crystalline silica is a material commonly found in construction materials such as bricks, mortar, engineered stone and concrete. Engineered stone in particular, contains up to 97% silica, and when it is drilled, sanded, ground, cut or demolished, it creates respirable crystalline silica dust.
One of the management strategies discussed by the Ministers was to conduct analysis and consultation on the potential impact of prohibiting the use of engineered stone and create a licensing system for the products that do not fall under the ban, but still create significant risks. SafeWork Australia’s CEO, Michelle Baxter, welcomed this recommendation and has now commenced a consultation process for the prohibition of the use of engineered stone.
Submissions to the consultation process will be open from 2 April 2023 and SafeWork Australia is encouraging businesses affected to have their say.
For more information, please visit Safe Work Australia’s website here.
