07 December 2022

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) echoes the need for urgent action to address silicosis, a potentially  incurable and fatal dust disease. The RACP agrees with the Hon Tony Burke MP and his call for swift protections for workers against silicosis. A diagnosis of silicosis may have a terrible impact on a person’s life.  

The RACP has frequently expressed concern about the increasing number of new cases of accelerated silicosis diagnosed in Australia over the past decade and has actively advocated for more action.

The RACP supports the recommendations of the National Dust Diseases Taskforce. While we are pleased to see the Government implementing its response to the Taskforce’s recommendations, more needs to be done to protect workers from this preventable disease.  This includes better support for specialist physicians to engage employers, supervisors, workplace regulators and unions to assess hazards which may be work, health and safety issues.

The RACP sees that the establishment of the National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry (National Registry) will not only enable the reporting cases of silicosis and other dust diseases, but also serve as a tool to identify, manage, and better treat those who have been diagnosed.

“We need to ensure appropriate and adequate systems are in place for the prevention, early identification, control and management of this disease, and other occupational lung diseases”, says Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (AFOEM) President, Dr Warren Harrex, Consultant Occupational and Environmental Physician.

“We recognise the difficulties workers and their families have accessing the full range of supports they need. Workers need multidisciplinary medical and health care.

“Engagement by government and employers with the medical community on worker health and safety will provide essential support to prevent harm among those who are most at risk.

“We know that access to and involvement of specialist occupational and environmental physicians and respiratory physicians in this important work is too limited and improvements are needed to protect workers.

“If we don’t address the issue now, we will see even more cases of silicosis, which will have lasting, detrimental impacts on the health of the Australian workforce.”