By Tate Papworth
Dry cutting of materials which may contain silica is now banned in Victoria.
Silica is commonly found in kitchen and bathroom benchtops and is a growing cause of lung disease, particularly among young tradies who inhale the crystalline silica dust.
Member for Sydenham Natalie Hutchins, in her new role as the parliamentary secretary for Workplace Safety, said banning dry cutting and protecting workers was essential.
“Unfortunately 15 Victorians have already died from silicosis and many more young tradies are facing debilitating illness,” she said.
“Unfortunately most people diagnosed are young men in their 30s and there’s a significant over representation in the western suburbs.
“Silica is found in kitchen and bathroom benchtops and with our ever-expanding new housing estates and housing renovation boom more tradies than ever are working with this product.”
Ms Hutchins said it was vital that anyone who may have come in contact with the product gets tested.
“We are currently offering free health screenings to those that might be at risk,” she said.
“It’s becoming a real issue, particularly in the western suburbs. The other problem with it is symptoms are relatively common for other ailments such as colds.”
“We’re also seeing that a lot of those diagnoses are new migrants. We’re urging anyone who might have come in contact with it to get checked.
“Once diagnosed the only way to survive is a lung transplant, otherwise it’s a death sentence.” Symptoms can include coughs, fatigue and chest pain.
The government is also leading a push to develop a national silicosis strategy.
WorkSafe received 28 claims for silica-related conditions in 2018 and 15 workers have died from the disease since 1985.
