Another 5 Queenslanders are diagnosed with silicosis while Gold Coaster speaks about his pay out

Another five Queenslanders have been diagnosed with potentially deadly silicosis. It comes as a 53-year-old Gold Coaster reveals he was paid out by WorkCover. READ THE FULL STORY

ANOTHER five workers have been diagnosed with silicosis in the month since the Gold Coast Bulletin exposed the deadly perils of stonecutters.

WorkCover says 179 Queenslanders now have the potentially fatal disease.

However, it is believed dozens of veteran stonecutters won’t get tested because of wider financial ramifications.

“For years I worked side-by-side with bosses dry-cutting engineered stone, but they won’t get tested because if they do and get silicosis, what are they going to do with their businesses?,” said a 53-year-old silicosis sufferer.

PART 1: Gold Coast father of 6 dying from silicosis calls for banning of engineered stone

Silicosis suffered Adam Emery from the Gold Coast wants engineered stone banned in Australia.

“They’re scared to get tested. I also know that there’s stacks of guys working today that have simple silicosis, mild cases, but they’re still working but this time with all the protective gear,” said the man, who asked to remain anonymous to protect a confidential payout from WorkCover after years of mediation.

“No matter how much I got, I’m still likely to die from this and I’ve got 50 per cent lung capacity left. They’re just keeping an eye on me and seeing how I go.”

His silicosis is causing heart complications and after just a few minutes of gardening he’s “gasping for air”.

Describing himself as a “long termer” with more than 35 years dry in the stonemason industry, he said “the day I got told I had silicosis was the day they gave me a dust mask”.

“Most of us who have silicosis have gone quiet, we don’t want to publicise it too much. But the hardest thing is stopping work. Most of us have gone from 16-hour days to nothing," he said.

PART 3: Why a deadly product continues to kill young Queensland stonemasons

An xray of uncomplicated silicosis in the lungs.

“What gets me the most is that they knew seven years ago that this product was bad, they put warning stickers on the slabs but once they guys cut it up there was no warning. So many people never got to see the danger they were in.

“Politicians should be doing more, the nation shouldn’t be divided into states, it’s an Australia-wide crisis but no one is doing anything about it.”

A Bulletin investigation in August found the number of young stonecutters being diagnosed in Queensland was increasing by the month.

Thirty-two have progressive massive fibrosis and will be dead within five years.Authorities know what is killing the young workers but won’t ban engineered stone because it is “cheap and mass produced”.

Workers are scared to lose their jobs by speaking up as it is largely left to employers to ensure staff are screened; and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland said it would finally re-audit the stone benchtop industry — eight months after it was asked to — after inquiries by the Bulletin.

Caesarstone warned about the dangers of dry cutting its products 17 years ago.

An international supplier of toxic engineered stone also knew of the potential fatal risks it presented to stonecutters at least 17 years ago, but continued to sell it.

Judith Thomson, from the Silicosis Support Network, said a lot more ‘lads’ had contacted the organisation in search of support, advice and information. The average age of men who made contact with the network was 32, while the oldest was 52.

“We’re being contacted by a lot more people which is a good thing, but also a sad thing. Our service is completely confidential and it gives people with silicosis an opportunity to speak freely because they have a lot of worries and concerns that they don’t want to speak to their partners freely about,” she said.

“Crucially, part of what we do is telling people that silicosis is preventable and so many people don’t realise this.”

This week the group’s silicosissupportnetwork website will launch and includes a downloadable toolbox with useful resources about fit testing, PPE gear and how to prevent silicosis.

Gold Coast Adam Emery, 36, was covered in silica dust like a snowman for more than a decade, and now he's been told he only has a few years to live after being diagnosed with 1.8cm mass in his lungs.

‘Put up or shut up’: The scary truth behind silent killer

Meanwhile, hundreds of young Gold Coast men are also refusing to get tested for silicosis in fear they’ll become unemployable and unable to feed their families.

“It’s a travesty,” said social worker Judith Thomson. “People are choosing not to get tested because they’re worried they’ll go from earning $1500 a week, paying a mortgage and caring for their family, to being out of work with no financial support.”

Young stonemasons are avoiding lung xrays in fear they'll become unemployable if diagnosed with silicosis.

The network was set up in 2018 after Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace issued a safety alert for engineered stone benchtop workers following an increase in compensation claims for silicosis.

“Unlike asbestosis which mainly affects those in their 60s or 70s, silicosis affects younger men in their prime who are working hard to ensure their family is financially secure,” Mrs Thomson said.

“There’s a huge sense of isolation from friends, society and insecurity and their self-esteem. We’re also seeing a lot of anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses.”

WHY DUST DISEASE VICTIMS SHOULDN’T HAVE TO FIGHT FOR COMPO

Gold Coast stonemasons diagnosed with silicosis are usually in their 30s and working hard to ensure their family’s financial security and become depressed and anxious about their future.

Mrs Thomson said engineered stone was cheap and wasn’t banned because it was a mass-produced, in-demand product that could make a “beautiful stone kitchen or bathroom at a very reasonable cost”.

“Like asbestos issues in the ’60s, where it was evident that asbestos was harmful, we are aware that consistent exposure to silica dust is harmful, and potentially deadly.”

She said, initially, restrictions and safety strategies were mandated to handle asbestos but through the determined advocacy of victims, asbestos was finally banned.

“Similarly, in 2020 we have safety restrictions in place to address the issues of silica products (engineered stone) like ‘wet-cutting’ as opposed to dry-cutting with engineered stone.

LOCAL SUES COMPANY AFTER EXPOSED TO DANGEROUS DUST

Two works conducting dry cutting in a south east Queensland work site: Photo by WHSQ

“This is mandatory in some but not all states, Queensland being one to lead the way. This still only reduces the danger, it doesn’t eliminate it.

“Within the industry there are allegations of ‘put up and shut up’ in the workplace. However, I also hear of employers working hard to do the right thing for their workers.”

Mrs Thomson said support group attendees overwhelmingly agreed that there should be a ban on man-made stone because “it’s a product that is killing people”.

“I feel we as a community must start listening to these guys and start acting in their best interest. Not enough is being done to stop young men from dying from this.”

The Silicosis Support Network can be contacted on 1800 776 412.

Originally published as Another 5 Queenslanders are diagnosed with silicosis while Gold Coaster speaks about his pay out