New health checks have diagnosed 20 stonemasons with silicosis

Twenty stonemasons have been diagnosed with a deadly lung disease after free health screenings were introduced under a new WorkSafe blitz.

Twenty stonemasons have been diagnosed with a deadly lung disease in health checks rolled out by the state government.

Workers are now banned from the uncontrolled dry cutting of engineered stone to reduce their exposure to silica dust, which can cause silicosis.

But dry cutting had long been an accepted industry practice and is linked to the deaths of 15 workers since 1985.

WorkSafe received 55 claims for silica-related conditions in the last financial year.

Inspectors are now blitzing worksites to put the new rules into action and free health screenings have been made available for the state’s 1400 stonemasons.

Victorian Workplace Safety Minister Jill Hennessy. Picture: Mark Stewart

So far, 232 have started the assessment process, and 73 of the 98 to complete their initial screening have been referred for secondary checks, with 20 claims after positive diagnoses.

“Our tough new regulations are now in effect and I encourage all stonemasons who have been exposed to silica dust to register for a free health assessment as soon as possible,” Workplace Safety Minister Jill Hennessy said.

MORE: MATT JOHNSTON: TIME TO LOOK UNDER THE CLADDING

MORE DANGEROUS BUILDINGS REVEALED IN AUDIT

“Our ban on dry cutting is helping protect tradies from this silent killer and making sure they go home safe to their families every day.”

Education seminars for stonemasons are taking place across Victoria and medical specialists recently gathered at a summit in Melbourne to discuss the disease.

[e-mail]

@tminear