SafeWork NSW inspectors have visited every stone manufacturing business in the State as part of a campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of exposure to silica.
Executive Director Specialist Services at SafeWork NSW, Andrew Gavrielatos said SafeWork was just two years into a five-year safety strategy to drive down future cases of the lung disease known as silicosis.
Mr Gavrielatos said SafeWork had recorded an additional 448 interactions with businesses in the tunnelling, domestic and civil construction, foundries, and building products industries in its eff,orts to raise awareness of the risk of silicosis.
“The strategy is comprehensive and involves four key components – awareness, interaction, research, and legislation,” Mr Gavrielatos said.
“We’re approaching silica exposure from all angles,” he said.
Mr Gavrielatos said in addition to a media campaign ‘Which Mask will you Wear?’ SafeWork had trained 184 inspectors to deliver education and compliance initiatives and held 48 industry forums, presentations and workshops.
He said SafeWork was also working with icare to improve knowledge of and access to health monitoring.
“Last financial year a total of 3,563 workers exposed to silica underwent health monitoring provided by icare’s Dust Diseases Care,” he said.
He said that of the 617 improvement and prohibition notices issued by SafeWork, 80 per cent had been fully complied with.
“As the number of notices complied with shows, silica exposure can be controlled by following simple steps,” said Mr Gavrielatos.
