Frequently asked questions

You can find a specialist occupational and environmental medicine physician through the Australia and New Zealand Society of Occupational Medicine.


What do occupational and environmental medicine physicians and respiratory medicine physicians do?
  • Occupational and environmental medicine physicians are workplace health experts, promoting safe and healthy work. They work with both employers and workers to prevent, diagnose and manage workplace health issues.
  • Respiratory medicine physicians are specialists in lung diseases and related conditions.

What can States and Territories do?
  • Seek expert guidance and implement localised versions of the National Dust Diseases Taskforce recommendations.
  • Ensure workplaces are encouraged to involve specialist occupational and environmental physicians in hazard controls and health surveillance for at risk workers.

What can employers do?
  • Refer to Safe Work Australia and local Safe Work website for your State or Territory.
  • Make efforts to reduce exposure to all dusts when working with artificial stone and other silica containing materials.
  • Implement and record independent assessments of personal workplace respirable crystalline silica dust levels.
  • Arrange regular medical assessments for at risk workers as required under the various OHS regulations in each State and Territory.

What can employees and contractors do?
  • Employees and contractors concerned about exposure to silica dust should seek specialist medical advice.
  • Get expert advice from a specialist occupational and environmental medicine physician or a respiratory physician.
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