THE NATIONAL DUST DISEASE TASKFORCE’S FINAL REPORT - National Dust Disease Taskforce 2021

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Executive Summary The past decade has seen the re-emergence of an entirely preventable occupational respiratory disease that was prevalent in Australia in the 1940s to 1960s: silicosis.1 Silicosis is caused by inhalation of respirable crystalline silica generated when manipulating - cutting, grinding and polishing - material containing silica such as engineered stone. The re-emergence of silicosis has been mostly driven by the popularity of engineered stone material which has been available in Australia since the early 2000s. Every case of silicosis affecting a stone benchtop worker is evidence that businesses, industry and governments need to do more to recognise and control the risks of working with engineered stone. In 2019, the Taskforce was asked to develop a national approach to the prevention, early identification, control and management of occupational dust diseases. In our Interim Advice, we set out five recommendations for immediate attention. Our Final Report builds on these recommendations. Collectively, they provide a comprehensive program of work designed to fundamentally address the risks facing workers in industries that generate hazardous dust such as silica, with an immediate focus on the engineered stone industry. We recognise that over the past 18 months, state and territory Work Health and Safety (WHS) regulators have taken additional actions to improve education and awareness of the risks and enforce compliance with WHS laws. Many have introduced targeted compliance campaigns and/or have made (or are in the process of introducing) regulatory changes to address the re-emergence of silicosis. While these actions are welcome, their effectiveness is not yet clear and there is not uniformity across jurisdictions. Reform is urgently required. There is evidence to suggest that nearly one in four engineered stone workers who have been in the industry since before 2018, are suffering from silicosis or other silica dust related diseases.2 Existing WHS regulatory frameworks have not effectively protected people working with engineered stone. We have listened to a wide range of views from stakeholders, and have had lengthy discussions about the merits of different interventions available to drive change: from improving education, communication and awareness raising, to limiting access to the product, to introducing a ban on the product. In this Final Report, we have identified specific regulatory and non-regulatory actions designed to have an immediate impact on improving worker health and safety. After careful deliberation, we have decided not to recommend a product ban at this stage. However, all parties need to

1

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (2019) Explainer: What is Silicosis?, accessed 20 January 2021

2

Data from Queensland and Victoria indicates that out of 1,509 workers screened, 362 were found to have silicosis: Sources: (i) “WorkCover screening outcomes” as at 31 May 2021 (https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/ claims-and-insurance/work-related-injuries/types-of-injury-or-illness/work-related-respiratory-diseases/ silicosis last checked 27/06/2021); (ii) “Silica-associated lung disease health screening research: Phase one final report” as at November 2020 (https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/resources/silica-associated-lung-diseasehealth-screening-research-phase-one-final-report last checked 27/06/2021) Note: this data does not include workers who have been exposed but are yet to be diagnosed or to develop the disease.

The National Dust Disease Taskforce’s Final Report JUNE 2021

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