Leading dust diseases law firm, Maurice Blackburn is supporting calls by the Australian Workers’ Union for tougher national regulations to protect all workers from deadly silica dust.
Read more: miragenews.com.au
‘The unknown is terrifying’: Young mum’s deadly lung disease the tip of the iceberg
Workers at risk of developing an incurable, progressive and fatal lung disease need greater protections across a range of workplaces, the union movement says, warning proposed new health and safety measures won’t help thousands of Australians.
Read more: brisbanetimes.com.au
'This is a life sentence': Mother-of-two contracts deadly disease by inhaling crystalline silica
Joanna McNeill just wishes someone had told her.
Told her that even though she worked in administration, the dust she would inhale from the nearby quarry would leave her lungs scarred.
Read more: 9news.com.au
WA employers ordered to provide ‘superior’ chest scans
Western Australia has changed its regulations for diagnosing respirable crystalline silica, requiring employers to provide workers with a computed tomography scan instead of the conventional chest X-ray.
Read more:safetowork.com.au
Hundreds of stonemasons at risk of lung disease, but 'relatively few' being tested
Hundreds of New Zealand stonemasons could be at risk of an incurable lung disease, but ACC says “relatively few” have taken up a chance to get themselves assessed.
Accelerated silicosis is caused by people breathing in airborne crystalline silica when cutting stone bench tops. People who have the bench tops in their homes are not at risk.
It irreversibly damages the lungs and can lead to death or the need for a lung transplant.
Read more: Stuff Business
Health surveillance requirements for silica strengthened
The McGowan Government has made an important change to the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 that will increase protections for workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica in the engineered stone industry.
Read more: mediastatements.wa.gov.au
Michigan OSHA launches emphasis program on silica
Lansing, MI — Michigan OSHA intends to conduct inspections at jobsites where workers are most likely to be exposed to respirable crystalline silica, as part of the agency’s recently launched state emphasis program aimed at reducing exposure to silica and preventing silicosis. Read more: Safety+Health
Perth father first in Western Australia to launch legal action over silicosis related to engineered stone
Petronilo Ligutan was diagnosed with silicosis, a lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust, last year and is the first person in Western Australia to sue over what he alleges were unsafe conditions at four different companies.
Silicosis is caused by breathing in dust containing crystalline silica, which is found in high levels in popular manufactured stone kitchen benchtops. Read more: ABC News
Petronalo Ligutan has been diagnosed with Silicosis. He and his partner Sheila Bona have decided to launch legal action. (ABC Radio Perth: Nadia Mitsopoulos)
Killer lung disease gets new support website
The Silicosis Support Network has recently launched their new website in support of people diagnosed with the deadly Silicosis disease. Many professionals in the health sector thought asbestos related disease was a massive tragedy that couldn’t happen again – well it is happening again, but this time it’s called Silicosis, with an estimated 450 cases in Australia and hundreds more undergoing health screening.
The new support website shares the journey of Daniel Lewis, a stonemason and father of two young daughters. In November 2018, Daniel was diagnosed with accelerated Silicosis. At 32 years young, he has been assessed as having a ‘terminal condition’, a direct result of his occupation. Time Daniel spends with his family is now extremely precious as there is no cure for this deadly lung disease. Read more: adss.org.au
Mine safety agency urged to toughen dust rules in mines
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The inspector general for the U.S. Department of Labor is urging the government’s mine safety agency to tighten restrictions on a dangerous substance that is inhaled by coal miners.
A report from the inspector general’s office said the Mine Safety and Health Administration, or MSHA, has not done enough to protect miners from exposure to silica dust. It said MSHA has had the same silica standard since the 1960s, according to a report by the Charleston Gazette-Mail. The substance is believed to be a contributor to black lung disease. Read more: washingtonpost.com