A research team from the University of Queensland is leading groundbreaking efforts to enhance the return-to-work process for individuals diagnosed with dust lung diseases.
Funded by a $567,473 grant from the Queensland government, the three-year project will review and make recommendations to improve the pathway for workers returning to their jobs after an early-stage diagnosis.
The study, spearheaded by Nikky LaBranche from UQ’s Sustainable Minerals Institute, will focus on workers in both the mining and artificial stone industries who have been diagnosed with conditions such as silicosis or coal worker’s pneumoconiosis (black lung).
“Being diagnosed with an occupational dust disease can have a huge impact on people’s lives, and it can have dire consequences,” LaBranche stated.
“For those with an early-stage diagnosis who are able to return to work, it’s important they are supported throughout the process and have a safe and dust-free work environment.”
The research team plans to conduct 120 interviews with workers, return-to-work coordinators, occupational physicians, regulators, and others to identify what is working and what needs improvement in the current return-to-work pathways.
Additionally, they will analyse alternative work options to determine if there are any obvious low-dust positions within their industry that would be suitable for affected workers.
LaBranche acknowledged the challenges faced by different industries in accommodating workers with dust lung diseases.
“In the mining industry, there are ways for workers to stay on in more administrative-focused positions — and there are ways of doing this well and not so well,” she explained.
However, she noted that the situation is more difficult for the engineered stone industry, where businesses are often smaller and may lack suitable job opportunities outside of dusty environments.
Queensland Minister for Industrial Relations, Grace Grace, praised the Miles Government’s commitment to protecting the health and safety of Queensland workers.
“Funding this research is just one of the ways the government is working to protect workers from contracting an occupational dust disease and supporting those workers who have been diagnosed,” she said.
Grace emphasised the importance of early detection, stating: “There is hope through early detection — workers with early stages of a dust disease have a strong potential to return to work, and businesses need to make sure they return to a safe environment with no continued exposure.”
The research findings are expected to provide valuable insights and recommendations to improve the return-to-work process for individuals diagnosed with dust lung diseases, ensuring they can safely and effectively reintegrate into the workforce.
