Data Snapshot - Silica

Background

Silicosis is a lung disease caused by breathing in respirable crystalline silica. Silicosis is a type of pulmonary fibrosis, of which there are three types:

Acute silicosis can develop after a short-term exposure to very high levels of respirable crystalline silica (silica dust), for example, less than one year and after a few weeks, and causes severe inflammation and an outpouring of protein into the lung.

Accelerated silicosis can develop after exposures of 3 to 10 years to moderate to high levels of silica dust and causes inflammation, protein in the lung and scarring of the lung (fibrotic nodules).

Chronic silicosis can develop after long term exposure (over 10 years) to lower levels of silica dust and causes fibrotic nodules and shortness of breath. It can include progressive massive fibrosis where the fibrotic nodules in the lung aggregate.

Jobs that can expose workers to silica dust include (SVH Lung Health n.d.):

Construction workers
Engineers
Farmers, and
Miners.

When materials that contain crystalline silica are cut, drilled, or ground without appropriate controls, dust particles enter the air. Silica particles less than 10 microns (respirable crystalline silica) can be inhaled deep into the lungs. These particles can be invisible and less than 1/5 of the diameter of a human hair.

Silicosis affects workers in the construction and mining industries, and those industries that work with engineered stone.

Download the infographic versions here:

National data

Recent research estimates that over 83,000 silicosis cases will arise in the future as a result of current exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) while working. In addition, over 10,000 cases of lung cancer are predicted to occur due to exposure to RCS at work (Curtin University 2022).

Silica data snapshot infographic of previous text

Between 2010-11 and 2019-20, there were 412 accepted workers’ compensation claims for silicosis in Australian jurisdictions covered by the model WHS laws (SWA 2022).

Silica data snapshot infographic of previous text

Silicosis cases in the Australian engineered stone sector as of May 2022
Jurisdiction	Number of silicosis cases
Queensland	238
Victoria	175
New South Wales	121
Western Australia	24
South Australia	18
Tasmania	3
Northern Territory	No publicly available data
Australian Capital Territory	No publicly available data

Source: Lung Foundation Australia 2023

National response

In 2022, the All of governments' response to the National Dust Disease Taskforce final report was published, which outlined the Australian and state and territory governments’ commitment to reducing incidences of silicosis and other dust diseases among workers, and increase the quality of life for people affected and their families.

The Australian Work Health and Safety (WHS) Strategy 2023-2033 sets a target of having no new cases of accelerated silicosis by 2033.

ACT data

In 2022, WorkSafe ACT commissioned a research insights project on Silica dust exposure which explored attitudes, perceptions and practices within the ACT. The research involved hour long interviews with over 30 different stakeholders including workers, safety officers, clients, business owners and more. We found a range of challenges, attitudes, and practices towards silica safety in the industry. The key findings identified:

Awareness of the harmful nature of silica dust is widely known throughout the industry, however understanding of all silica containing materials, appreciation for the risk and the correct safety practices was inconsistent across the industry.
The amount of silica risk present in a profession generally increased their knowledge and awareness of silica, meaning professions with less obvious risk were less likely to be safety conscious.
Large companies and commercial construction projects have more resources to put towards safety practices, which increased their overall level of compliance and safety. Conversely, smaller companies and residential construction sites have fewer resources and therefore much lower levels of compliance and safety.
The individual risk tolerance of a worker has a major influence on their safety practices; this is generally determined by a wide range of environmental and personal factors.
Access to and awareness of how to properly use safety equipment was a large determinate on how safe a construction worker is at their workplace.
The understanding of, and the safety behaviour towards, silica dust risk in the ACT construction industry has improved significantly in the past 5 to 10 years, however there are still large gaps in education throughout the industry that will need to be addressed to improve safety.

Between 2019-20 and 2021-22, there have been several accepted workers’ compensation claims in the public sector involving silicosis (as at 28 February 2023).

Silica data infographic of previous data

In 2022, the ACT prohibited the dry cutting of all silica containing materials and engineered stone and prescribed control measures that must be used when these materials are modified using power tools.

WorkSafe ACT's response

In 2021, WorkSafe ACT launched a proactive campaign focused on preventing exposure to silica dust.

In the last 30 months (January 2021 – June 2023), WorkSafe ACT conducted 48 proactive and reactive inspections involving silica/stone cutting.

During the same period, the team issued 53 improvement and 57 prohibition notices. WorkSafe ACT also issued eight (8) infringement notices to the value of $30,720.

46% of the issued notices were for breaches of the following WHS Regulations: