Workers at risk of serious lung disease after harmful silica dust exposure can benefit from updated national guidelines that will help GPs identify those at risk and refer them for appropriate diagnostic testing and treatment.
While Australia’s world-leading ban on engineered stone in 2024 will save countless workers from silica-associated disease, including silicosis and other occupational respiratory diseases, additional work was required to ensure the health system could adequately support those previously exposed.
The National guidance for doctors assessing workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica dust 2026 was developed through an Australian Government-funded project led by the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ), with Monash University responsible for the technical development via an interdisciplinary Expert Working Group. The guidance was informed by patient representatives and over 20 stakeholders, including work health regulators, unions, healthcare organisations, and national institutes.
Professor Karen Walker-Bone, Chair of the expert working group and Director of the Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health at the Monash School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, said this new national guidance will be vital for health monitoring and detecting hidden lung disease before workers even feel sick.
“It helps all specialists and GPs to identify those who may have silica-associated disease, understand when further assessment is needed, and connect workers with the right care and support services. Because many workers with early occupational lung disease may feel well, appropriate monitoring and a detailed exposure history are critical,” Professor Walker-Bone said.
Associate Professor Ryan Hoy, Deputy Chair of the expert working group and Research Fellow at the Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, said the new guidance is a crucial turning point.
“In recent years, hundreds of Australian workers have been diagnosed with silicosis. This new guidance aims to increase the awareness of lung disease among thousands of workers at risk of silica exposure, giving doctors a clear approach to accurately assess their lung health,” Associate Professor Hoy said.
The national guidance published by the Australian Centre for Disease Control expands on the 2021 National Dust Disease Taskforce guidance and establishes a nationally consistent framework for medical practitioners assessing workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica across a broad range of industries.
“Shifting the guidance towards occupational health monitoring gives doctors a clearer, more practical framework for assessing workers based on known or suspected exposure to respirable crystalline silica,” said Mr Vincent G. W. So, TSANZ Chief Executive Officer.
“This is important because silica-related disease can be silent in its early stages.
“A consistent approach to monitoring, assessment and referral can help identify health changes earlier, support timely specialist care, and reduce the risk of further harm.”
The updated guidance aims to support earlier identification, more consistent health monitoring, and appropriate referral pathways for workers who may have been exposed to silica dust during their working life, recognising that silica-related diseases may emerge many years after exposure.
The National guidance for doctors assessing workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica dust 2026
