Young tradies risk lung disease

Dry cutting of materials which may contain silica is now banned in Victoria.

Silica is commonly found in kitchen and bathroom benchtops and is a growing cause of lung disease, particularly among young tradies who inhale the crystalline silica dust.

Member for Sydenham Natalie Hutchins, in her new role as the parliamentary secretary for Workplace Safety, said banning dry cutting and protecting workers was essential.

“Unfortunately 15 Victorians have already died from silicosis and many more young tradies are facing debilitating illness,” she said. Read more: starweekly.com.au

The horrifying truth behind tradie's three year cough

For three years Jack Gray had a cough that just wouldn't go away.

At first the Melbourne father put it down to smoking and getting older, but a year ago he began to fear its cause was something far worse.

Gray, who had worked as a stonemason since he was 19, went to his doctor to insist they investigate his cough further amid reports of an explosion of silicosis cases among those in his industry.

Read more: nzherald.co.nz

Queensland releases code for engineered stone

Queensland has announced that it will introduce a Code of Practice for the stone benchtop industry.

The code attempts to reduce and eradicate silicosis in Queensland, caused by the fabrication and processing of engineered and natural stone benchtops. Read more: manmonthly.com.au

Experts warn deadly lung disease silicosis more widespread than stonemason industry

Workplace health experts are warning the deadly lung disease, silicosis is significantly more widespread than the engineered stone benchtop industry.

260 benchtop workers have been diagnosed with the disease, which has claimed the lives of two men Read more: abc.net.au

Silicosis surge prompts more calls for a ban on engineered stone products

A man who developed silicosis after working with engineered stone products has called for the products to be banned to prevent more people developing the disease.

"There's no way you can produce a kitchen purely, without having some sort of dust come off the manufacturing process," Braden Barnes told 7.30. Read more: abc.net.au

Mother of silicosis victim speaks out

The mother of the first victim of a new wave of a deadly workplace disease has spoken out for the first time.

Thirty-six-year-old Gold Coast stonemason Anthony White died of silicosis in March.

Read more: abc.net.au

Grieving families call for bosses to face jail time over workplace deaths

Heartbroken families are calling for changes that could mean employers face jail time if one of their workers dies on the job.

Janine and Dave Brownlee's son Jack was killed with another tradie, Charlie Howkins, when the wall of a trench collapsed on them at a PipeCon construction site in Ballarat.

Read more:9news.com.au

Silicosis: Hormone hope in fight against deadly disease

Ryan Hoy, Jane Bourke: Monash University | 8 August 2019

Safe Work Australia recently announced that in three years’ time it will cut the silica dust exposure limit from 0.1 milligrams per cubic metre over an eight-hour shift to 0.05 milligrams.

Monash University’s Dr Ryan Hoy – a research fellow and respiratory physician – first heard of the alarming new silicosis outbreak in Australia in 2015 through the case of a Vietnamese stonemason in New South Wales. Now, just four years later, the incurable disease is at epidemic levels, with young tradespeople either dying or having lung transplants. Both outcomes, Dr Hoy says, death or usually terminal illness, are “unnecessary”.

Read more: thefifthestate.com.au

Construction workers urged to join silica register

Construction workers who have ever been exposed to silica dust through their work are being urged to register their exposure with a new database to assist with potential future legal action.

The online silica register has been set up by the Unite union to support future legal cases if those registered experience long-term health problems as a result of silica exposure.

Read more: theconstructionindex.co.uk

Explainer: what is silicosis and why is this old lung disease making a comeback?

MENAFN - The Conversation) Silicosis is a group of occupational lung diseases caused by breathing in silica dust. It has been described since ancient times, when miners and stone cutters were exposed to dust containing this crystalline mineral.

Silicosis was more common in Australia in the 1940s to 60s, particularly in construction and demolition workers. Growing awareness of the disease and the importance of reducing exposure to dust – for instance, wearing masks at work, wetting the dust and other safe work practices – has reduced the number of cases.

Read more: menafn.com