WorkCover Queensland has engaged two leading universities to undertake critical research on how to best support workers who have been diagnosed with silicosis.
Miners and stonemasons are at risk of developing lung diseases such as silicosis because of regular exposure to airborne dust through mechanical processes such as crushing, cutting, drilling and grinding.
Silicosis is caused by exposure to respirable crystalline silica (found in stand, stone, concrete and mortar) or quartz dust.
According to Coal Services, respirable crystalline silica can cause fibrous or scar tissue to form in the lungs (silica-induced pneumoconiosis) that reduces the lung’s ability to extract oxygen from the air. Silicosis usually takes several years to develop and shows little to no symptoms in the early stages of the disease – making early detection a challenge.
Industrial Relations Minister, Grace Grace, said Professor Malcolm Sim from Monash University and Professor Bob Cohen from the University of Illinois will lead expert teams to address important issues including:
- the treatment, rehabilitation and retraining options that are available to improve workers’ capacity to work;
- the mental health impact and issues preventing return to work; and
- ensuring the return to work environment is safe to protect workers’ long-term health.
“Both teams bring extensive experience in the management of dust diseases and best practice return to work,” Ms Grace said.
“They are involved in research and other initiatives in schemes across Australia and internationally to improve how workers with dust diseases are supported in their recovery.”
The research will be published to ensure all workers’ compensation schemes benefit from greater knowledge about best practice strategies to support workers.
WorkCover Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Watson, said WorkCover Queensland is committed to providing the best possible support to Queensland workers who are diagnosed with dust diseases and is now supporting more than 168 workers who have been diagnosed with silicosis or progressive massive fibrosis.
“This research will help continue to improve the support we provide, based on the latest research about best practice strategies,” he said.
Ms Grace said the research project, which was estimated to cost around $80,000, was the next phase in the Queensland Government’s response to the threat of silicosis.
“Queensland is leading the nation in responding to the threat of silicosis,” she said.
In July, changes were made to the Public Health Act 2005 and Public Health Regulation 2018 in response to the emergence of occupational dust lung diseases, including coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (commonly known as ‘black lung disease’) and silicosis.
The Act and regulation changes provide a legislative framework for Queensland Health to establish a notifiable dust lung disease register (NDLD register).
These changes commenced from 1 July 2019.
The NDLD register enables the Queensland Government to monitor dust lung diseases like silicosis and identify any emerging workplace health issues.
It also enables them to capture incidences of other dust lung diseases from working environments where workers are exposed to inorganic dust.
Any person who works in industries with exposure to inhaled silica should seek out a medical professional so they can be monitored for signs and symptoms of lung disease.