Silica exposure occurs in construction-related industries such as quarrying, tunneling, civil construction, stonemasonry, cement manufacturing, concrete product fabrication, building demolition, high-rise concrete construction, brick and tile manufacturing, concrete recycling, bench top manufacture and paving.
The toxic dust has been dubbed “the new asbestos”, and a 2017 Queensland Parliamentary inquiry into Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis (Black Lung) was told silica was “more dangerous than coalmine dust”.
Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) remains an important risk factor for respiratory disease amongst construction workers. Construction constitutes one of the largest groups of workers exposed to silica in the community. While silicosis is an historically important disease in many areas of construction, RCS is now known to cause chronic obstructive lung disease including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Chronic exposure to elevated levels of RCS is found to cause cumulative loss of respiratory volume, and still poses a risk of silicosis. Levels that are a concern for silicosis are also now a concern for lung cancer. Disease prevention relies entirely on control of dust and RCS exposure.
With new estimates showing that over 230 lung cancer cases in Australia each year are caused by exposure to silica dust in the workplace, Cancer Council Australia is calling for construction companies and construction workers to be more aware of cancer risks on the job.
It is estimated that around 600,000 Australian workers each year are exposed to silica dust at work, including construction workers, miners, farmers, engineers, bricklayers and road construction workers, as well as those working in demolition.
Terry Slevin, chair, Occupational and Environmental Cancer Risk Committee Cancer Council Australia, said that many workers in the construction sector are not aware of the invisible cancer risks.
“Silica is surprisingly common – it’s found in stone, rock, sand, gravel and clay, as well as bricks, tiles, concrete and some plastic materials. When these materials are worked on or cut, silica is released as a fine dust 100 times smaller than a grain of sand. It’s so small you can’t see it – but if you breathe it in, in some cases it can lead to lung cancer,” Slevin said.
“We continually see workers cutting concrete, tiles or bricks, or demolishing materials without proper protection in place, which is a very real concern.
“We estimate that silica dust is causing over 230 lung cancer cases each year across the country that could have easily been prevented through dust prevention or control, adequate ventilation or personal respiratory protection.
“Of around 11,000 new cases of lung cancer diagnosed each year in Australia over 8,000 are due to smoking, 230 due to silica dust and 130 due to diesel exhaust. These are preventable, and given the poor survival rate for lung cancer it is critical we do all we can to prevent them.”
Slevin said that it was the responsibility of employers and employees to act now to reduce the number of silica-related lung cancer cases.
“Employers have a legal responsibility to provide a safe work place. Likewise, those working with silica need to take responsibility for their future health, get informed and protect themselves,” he said.
“If you are regularly demolishing materials, sandcasting, sandblasting, cutting concrete or stone or as a part of your job, you are at risk, so you need to be fully aware.”
Anthony White is a sad example of the impact this disease can have. He should be in the prime of his life; instead, the 36-year-old is battling silicosis which has almost taken his life.
Late last year, the Gold Coast stonemason developed a chest infection that wouldn’t clear up and he quickly lost a lot of weight. He saw a doctor, and in November was given the shocking news — he had been struck down by silicosis.
The disease can take up to 15 years to develop, and symptoms include shortness of breath, cough, fever, cyanosis (bluish skin) and frequent chest infections, which can eventually lead to lung transplants and even death.
White recently developed a viral infection as a result of the disease that saw him rushed to intensive care.
White handled and cut artificial stone products for a decade before falling ill.
Now, he’s speaking out from his sick bed in a desperate bid to raise awareness.
“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,” he said in a statement.
“Wearing protective gear wasn’t policed at any of my workplaces.
“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 would personally like to see rules enforced so nobody cuts it dry in any workplace anywhere in Australia. It’s dangerous and it’s putting lives at risk.”
White’s message is all the more urgent because, while silicosis deaths are dropping globally, there has been an alarming spike of cases in Australia.
Shine Lawyers are currently speaking with Australian construction workers who have developed the deadly illness.
Shine Lawyers’ dust diseases expert Roger Singh said: “Lessons need to be learned from the awful legacy of asbestos and the industry needs to take action now to prevent potential deaths.
“We are now speaking with construction workers who tell us that despite the awareness that’s been raised, the dry cutting continues in many workplaces.
“We cannot let this continue. Australians deserve safe workplaces.
He said silicosis was a “horrific disease” which could lead to a “terrible death”.
The firm is calling on all state and territory governments to make the regulation and enforcement of dust suppression practises a priority, as well introducing tougher penalties and fines for job sites that don’t comply.
Singh said he hoped the campaign would lead to a parliamentary inquiry.
“We wouldn’t let something as dangerous as this happen in other workplaces, so we have to ask why it is being allowed to happen in construction,” he said.
Cancer Council Australia has published a new fact sheet on silica and cancer risk, available at www.cancer.org.au/workcancer