Do you know what your workers are breathing in? Safe Work Australia has launched a national campaign to raise awareness of occupational lung diseases and to educate persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) on what they can do to manage these risks at work.
Safe Work Australia CEO, Michelle Baxter said “The Clean Air. Clear Lungs. campaign targets industries where there is a high risk of workers contracting an occupational lung disease such as construction, manufacturing, agriculture and those who work with engineered stone.”
“Visitors, trades and administration staff, as well as those who work directly with engineered stone may be exposed to respirable crystalline silica dust that can cause silicosis and other occupational lung diseases.”
“Occupational lung diseases, such as silicosis, are very serious conditions, but they are entirely preventable. As a PCBU, you have a duty to protect the health and safety of your workers and the first step is to identify if hazards exist at your workplace,” Ms Baxter said.
In the engineered stone industry, dusts are created when conducting regular work such as:
· during the fabrication of engineered stone
· when cutting, grinding, sanding, drilling and polishing engineered stone
· during the clean-up after working with engineered stone and respirable crystalline silica dust.
“Once PCBUs have identified hazards, they then need to undertake a risk assessment and implement control measures to protect workers from developing an occupational lung disease.”
“The best control measure is to eliminate the risk altogether, however if that isn’t possible it is essential to apply the most appropriate control measures to manage the risk,” Ms Baxter said.
Effective control measures can include:
· Substitution
o using products that do not contain crystalline silica
o using a crystalline silica containing product that does not need to be cut, ground or polished
· Isolation
o isolating fabrication of engineered stone in an enclosed room with restricted access and a suitable ventilation system, and avoiding cutting, polishing and trimming on site
o limiting access around work processes that generate silica dust.
· Engineering
o using on-tool dust extraction and water suppression
o using industrial vacuum cleaners with appropriate dust filtration for clean-up
Administrative
o providing a room away from the work area for other tasks such as changing or eating
o having appropriate policies for storing cleaning and maintaining equipment
o installing signs to alert workers of the risk of silica dust
o using appropriate personal protective equipment and respiratory protective equipment
Safe Work Australia’s Clean Air. Clear Lungs. campaign is supported by work health and safety regulators and other stakeholders to increase awareness of occupational lung diseases.
For more, see the campaign website: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/clearlungs
For engineered stone resources, including infographics, checklists, and case studies: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/clearlungs/resources?f%5B0%5D=tag_by_industry_business%3A1091
