Silicosis exposure the subject of a new ban to outlaw dangerous manufacturing processes

DANGEROUS practices exposing manufacturing workers to a seriously debilitating and potentially fatal disease will be banned from today, with 150 Queensland manufacturers set to come under the microscope.

DANGEROUS practices exposing manufacturing workers to the potentially fatal disease silicosis will be banned from today.

The State Government has today moved to issue an urgent safety alert after Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace last night was handed a briefing detailing a spike in silicosis claims for workers in the engineered stone benchtop manufacturing industry.

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Engineered stone is a relatively new building product that has become hugely popular in the past decade.

But it contains about 90 per cent crystalline silica compared to five per cent in natural marble stone.

That creates a risk to workers as high levels of exposure to silica dust can cause silicosis. Silicosis is a serious, debilitating illness that can be terminal.

An audit of 10 workplaces involved in working with engineered stone benchtops has uncovered risky work practices, including uncontrolled dry cutting, inadequate ventilation and a lack of personal protection equipment such as respiratory masks.

Ms Grace today told State Parliament Workplace Health and Safety Queensland had moved quickly to escalate the matter after the findings.

Gold Coast stonemason Anthony White was diagnosed with silicosis last year.

Twenty-two specially trained inspectors will begin auditing businesses from this week, with 150 manufacturers to be audited by the end of the year.

She said Workcover Queensland had received 22 compensation claims for silicosis in the past three weeks.

It was dealing with six terminal cases, with a life expectancy of three to five years.

“Tragically, some of these workers are young, including a 27-year-old and (Workplace Health and Safety Queensland) has advised that further cases are likely,” Ms Grace said.

“In most cases the workers had no symptoms, with the disease only being detected through health checks by recently trained B Reader physicians,” she said.

Gold Coast stonemasons Anthony White and Garry Moratti, who both were diagnosed with silicosis last year and became seriously ill, said in July they were “very angry” at a lack of regulation in the industry.

“Wearing protective gear wasn’t policed at any of my workplaces,” Mr White, 36, said.

“There was so much dust flying around, you could feel the grit on your teeth and taste the dust in your mouth, but I didn’t think it was a problem. I had no idea it could make you this sick.

“I want to make sure no one else has to go through this. It’s been absolutely horrendous for me and my family who have had to watch me get sicker and sicker.”

The Government will today tell employers that dry cutting of engineered stone is banned.

It will also warning that employers who fail to protect its workers will be punished.

A safety alert for industry has been issued detailing the rules for working safely with the product and the regulator will write to all Queensland-based manufacturers to inform them of the need for safety controls.

Workers in the engineered stone industry are being urged to undergo urgent health screenings through WorkCover Queensland, by phoning it’s hotline on 1300362128.