A new study appearing in the journal CHEST®, published by Elsevier, documents an increased incidence of silicosis, which progressed rapidly to massive pulmonary fibrosis in a significant proportion of patients who had previously worked artificial stone (AS), also called artificial quartz agglomerate or conglomerate, a popular new countertop material, despite the cessation of exposure after diagnosis. Read more: news-medical.net
Reduction in workplace exposure standards for respirable crystalline silica
What it means for you
You must manage worker exposure to dust and meet your existing duties and obligations under Queensland work health and safety legislation. This means:
using higher order controls (including elimination, engineering, isolation and substitution)
air monitoring
health monitoring
training for workers
appropriate respiratory protective equipment. Read more: worksafe.qld.gov.au
Silica Health Assessments Pass Halfway Target
More than half of Victoria’s 1,400 stonemasons have now registered for silica health screening, as part of the Andrews Labor Government’s comprehensive action plan to address and prevent unsafe silica exposure. Read more: miragenews.com
Silica Health Assessments Pass Halfway Target
More than half of Victoria’s 1,400 stonemasons have now registered for silica health screening, as part of the Andrews Labor Government’s comprehensive action plan to address and prevent unsafe silica exposure. Read more: miragenews.com.au
'Like a Mad Max film': Silicosis rears its head in WA amid calls to clean up stone industry
Perth man Petronilo Ligutan has been diagnosed with silicosis. CREDIT:MARTA PASCUAL JUANOLA
After living and working in WA since 2007, stonemason Petronilo Ligutan had just received the keys to his family’s dream home when his world came crashing down on him. Read more: smh.com.au
The Reader: ‘New asbestos’ threatens another wave of workers
For construction workers in London and across the UK, we’re calling on the Government to take action and prevent the “next asbestos” from taking more lives in the UK.
It’s estimated that 600,000 workers in Britain are exposed to respirable crystalline silica (RCS), the dust created by cutting or fracturing brick and stone, which causes silicosis, the most common chronic occupational lung disease in the world. Read more standard.co.uk
Government urged to do more to prevent silica from becoming ‘the next asbestos’
MPs have urged the government to do more to prevent exposure to silica becoming “the next asbestos”, especially within the construction sector, including expanding access to occupational health professionals within primary care.
A report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Respiratory Health and not-for-profit organisation B&CE called on the government to take five key steps to protect workers from exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS), which it described as the biggest risk to construction workers’ health after asbestos. Read more: personneltoday.com
Treat silica dust like asbestos, says parliamentary group
A group of MPs and Lords is calling for new regulations to treat silica dust like asbestos, and to halve the legal limit to workplace exposure.
The All Party Parliamentary Group for Respiratory Health said more should be done to tackle silicosis, the most common chronic occupational lung disease in the world. It is caused by respirable crystalline silica, which is created when bricks or stone are fractured, cut or drilled into. There are around 450 lung cancer deaths a year among former construction workers exposed to the dust. Read more: constructionnews.co.uk
Licensing Scheme To Boost Engineered Stone Safety
The Andrews Labor Government will introduce Australia’s first licensing scheme for engineered stone to further reduce the risks of workers contracting deadly silicosis.
Minister for Workplace Safety Jill Hennessy announced the scheme at Silicosis Summit: A preventative approach, which brought WorkSafe, experts and industry together to discuss the prevention of silica dust exposure in the workplace. Read more: miragenews.com
Code to protect Vic tradies from silicosis
A new code of conduct has been established in Victoria in an effort to reduce the risk of tradies contracting silicosis.
A new code of conduct has been established in Victoria in an effort to reduce the risk of tradies contracting the deadly lung disease silicosis.
The code of conduct sets out employers' obligations to provide a safe environment for people cutting engineered stone and follows a ban on the dry-cutting of engineered stone introduced last year by the Andrews government.
Read more: news.com.au