An inspection of Queensland’s 158 silica stone benchtop workplaces has brought hundreds of breaches of the Code of Practice.
A safety blitz across the Gold Coast has revealed workers are being exposed to a potentially deadly material...
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A SAFETY blitz of Queensland’s 158 silica stone benchtop workplaces has brought hundreds of breaches of the Code of Practice.
A quarter (84) of the 331 enforcement actions were issued on the Gold Coast, including three prohibition notices, indicating some of the city’s 45 businesses are continuing to ignore the serious health risks associated with the potentially deadly silica dust.
Originally, the state government only planned to reinspect a “sample” of the workplaces to check they were complying with the Stone Benchtop Code of Practice 2019.
But it did a backflip and decided to inspect them all after the Bulletin made inquiries into why only a sample were being revisited when a Stage 2 audit in September 2018 revealed widespread noncompliance across 138 workplaces.
At the time Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) issued 600 statutory notices for respirable crystalline silica-related contraventions, including 57 prohibition notices and 541 improvement notices.
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The Bulletin investigation also revealed that a shocking number of young men had been exposed to the secret dust killer and an increasing number were being diagnosed with the deadly lung condition silicosis.
In July last year, 174 men had silicosis. In less than a year this figure had jumped to 191, according to WorkCover’s latest screening statistics.
A WHSQ spokesman said the inspection of 158 workplaces was completed in February. The major issues related to businesses having inadequate or non-existent air monitoring systems for silica dust.
They also had inadequate cleaning methods, workers who were not wearing respiratory protection equipment correctly and inadequate water spray or mist controls operating during the cutting of the stone benchtops.
He said air monitoring, a key component of the Code of Practice, was the focus of the campaign, specifically ensuring that it was conducted at workplaces by an independent competent person, such as a certified occupational hygienist, who used a range of devices.
The spokesman said there were indications that the industry as a whole had made “considerable progress” towards complying with the code.
“Throughout the year, WHSQ will make follow-up visits to ensure enforcement notices issued during the Stage 3 campaign have been complied with,” he said.
“The Queensland government, which has led reforms in this sector, will continue to explore and support all available options to ensure this transformed industry operates safely now and into the future.”
Burleigh Heads biz makes real-time silica dust monitoring device
A Burleigh Heads manufacturer is working on “top secret project” for the NSW government to develop what is believed to be the world’s first real-time silica dust monitoring device.
Nome Services managing director Nathan Owen said he had engaged the services of UK-based Trolex to develop a real-time respirable crystalline silica (RCS) sensor to help “save lives each day”.
Due to a nondisclosure agreement being in place, Mr Owen said while phase two of the trails were underway, he could not provide any further updates but that “we are making progress”.
The Gold Coast business was given a grant by SafeWork NSW to develop the product, with plans to eventually miniaturise the technology and design a wearable RCS protection unit.
“Things are really starting to take shape with the product,” he said.
With a mining background, Mr Owen established his business in 2006 to support the underground coal industry. But in recent years he’s invested heavily in designing and delivering real-time monitoring safety systems for the mining, tunnelling and construction industries.
One of his designs was creating an early warning system for mine collapses, something he was inspired to do because of his father, who worked for a company that would go in and fix mines after catastrophic events.
Mr Owen said his mother, in remission from lung cancer, also inspired him to try and be part of a solution in saving lives of Australian workers.
“I’ve got a passion to make changes, not just selling a monitor, but being a part of the solution in regards to eliminating lung diseases such as silicosis from workplaces,” he said.
Minister Grace Grace slams state’s stone benchtop fabrication industry - Dec 2020
INDUSTRIAL Relations Minister Grace Grace has slammed the state’s stone benchtop fabrication industry after an ongoing safety blitz continued to reveal young men are still being exposed to deadly silica dust.
“There is no excuse to cut corners when it comes to the safety of workers in this industry,” said Minister Grace.
“The risks are just too high, people’s lives are at risk.”
A Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) spokesman said the watchdog was continuing to audit all silica stone benchtop fabricators in operation throughout Queensland as part of its Stage 3 compliance campaign that began in August.
It comes as five more Queenslanders are diagnosed with the potentially fatal lung disease silicosis bringing the total to 184, with 32 of these diagnosed with advanced silicosis.
The state’s safety blitz started as a result of inquiries from this paper, with the regulator originally saying it would audit a “sample” of the state’s 166 workplaces to ensure they were complying with the Silica Stone Benchtop Code of Practice 2019.
But after discovering widespread noncompliance during the early stages of the audit, it committed to visiting every single workplace across in the state.
As of November 23, 118 stone benchtop workplaces have been audited, with 236 enforcement actions taken because workplaces have failed to adequately protect their workers.
The Gold Coast region has the largest concentration of stone benchtop fabricators in the state, with 35 workplaces. Of those, 31 workplaces have been audited with 69 enforcement actions taken, this includes three prohibition notices.
A prohibition notice requires a workplace immediately stops an action because it poses a serious risk to the health or safety of a person from an immediate or imminent exposure to a hazard. Inspectors must follow up these notices to ensure the dangerous activity has been stopped or risk is mitigated.
“If an inspector forms a reasonable belief that a person is contravening the law, then they take appropriate action to remedy the situation,” said the WHSQ spokesman.
“Rest assured, WHSQ will act quickly and decisively to ensure workers are protected from silica exposure.
“It is encouraging that there has been a significant reduction in hazardous dry cutting as well as improvements in health monitoring levels since the last campaign.
“However, more work still needs to be done.”
Minister Grace said workplace health and safety responsibilities employers under the new Code of Practice were clear.
“WHSQ will continue its enforcement and compliance campaign to ensure workers are protected and laws, regulations and codes of practice are adhered to” she said.
New website launched to provide support for silicosis sufferers - Dec 2020
AUSTRALIA’s first dedicated website for silicosis sufferers has been launched, offering face-to-face or online support for Gold Coasters struggling with a diagnosis.
It comes as five more Queenslanders are diagnosed with the potentially fatal lung disease.
According to WorkCover health screening data of 1053 stonemasons, 228 people have been diagnosed with a work-related condition as of October 31. Of these, 184 young men have silicosis and 32 have progressive massive fibrosis (advanced silicosis).
WorkCover said it was helping them with their recovery, rehabilitation and providing compensation for loss of wages.
For their mental health, silicosis sufferers diagnosed with the terminal illness can now jump online and access confidential support through the Silicosis Support Network’s new website.
In addition to offering social workers and individual, peer or group support, the service provides vital information and resources on the disease.
It also facilitates monthly group supports and offers home visits. It does not offer medical or treatment advice, but can put members in touch with medical professionals.
Developed with funding from the Queensland Department of Health, the service is run by the Asbestos Disease Support Society.
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Silicosis treatment breakthrough at Prince Charles University Hospital
Gold Coast dad dying of silicosis wants engineered stone banned in Australia
The non-profit Society general manager Trevor Torrens said many professionals in the health sector thought asbestos-related disease was a giant 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,” he said.
“Tragically, the number of cases being diagnosed is now rising very quickly and forecast to grow substantially over the next decade.”
Mr Torrens said the support network would help fathers, husbands and sons tell their loved ones about their illness and was developed in conjunction with a 34-year-old diagnosed with accelerated silicosis two years ago.
“The information provided is valid and relevant to the specific needs of silicosis sufferers, their families and their caregivers,” he said.
“The network understands that there’s often more questions than answered when people receive a silicosis diagnosis.
“And there’s no hard border on the website, so people from all states and territories are welcome to visit it.”
Earlier this month the Bulletin revealed doctors at The Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane, in consultation with scientists from University of Queensland, have found a potential world-first cure silicosis.
Funded by The Common Good, the treatment involves patients undergoing a whole lung lavage whereby 25 litres of water is slowly flushed through each lung.
Six silicosis sufferers have undergone the trials and those with mild cases were virtually cured of the disease. The Common Good is fundraising to ensure the work continues.
To contact the Silicosis Support Network call 1800 76 412 or visit silicosissupport.org.au
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