A huge influx in tradesmen falling seriously ill from inhaling toxic dust has sparked calls for an immediate national ban on dry cutting techniques.
Stonemasons across Australia have been struck down with the deadly lung disease, silicosis, which they contracted by cutting artificial stone products used for kitchen and bathroom benchtops.
Silicosis is an irreversible disease cause by inhaling the dust which becomes trapped in the lungs, causing deep scarring and impacting the ability to breathe.
It takes 10-15 years for the disease to to develop, which often starts with a persistent cough that won’t go away.
Dust diseases expert Roger Singh has called for action and regulation before any more tradesmen succumb or die from the shocking disease.
Silicosis sufferer and former stonemason Anthony White (pictured) has spent the last few weeks fighting for life in intensive care after he was struck down with a viral infection
Anthony White (pictured) was a stonemason for more than 10 years. He now needs a lifesaving double long transplant
Mr Singh is currently speaking with six tradesmen diagnosed with the disease in his role with Shine Lawyers.
Stonemasons currently working in the industry are urged to see a doctor for a health check and lung scan.
‘We are now speaking with stonemasons who tell us that despite the awareness that’s been raised the dry cutting continues in their workplaces and wet cutting systems, and enforcement of proper face masks, that could prevent disease are not being installed,’ Mr Singh said.
He has written to every state and territory minister calling for an immediate ban dry cutting and an enforcement program introduced to ensure the dangerous practices are stamped out.
Mr Singh also wants tougher penalties and fines for workshops that continue to use unsafe practices.
‘We know wet cutting, using water to damp down the dust, is much safer but there is no regulation of the industry to enforce this practice,’ Mr Singh said.
‘We cannot let this continue. Australians deserve safe workplaces.’
Anthony White, 36, (pictured with mum Dianne) requires a lifesaving double lung transplant after being diagnosed with a life-threatening disease from being exposed to lethal amounts of silica dust
Crystalline silica is present in a range of materials including concrete, bricks, sandstone, granite, clay and cement
Gold Coast stonemason Anthony White, 36, was diagnosed with silicosis last November after working in the field for more than 10 years.
He initially thought the life-threatening disease was just a common chest infection until an X-ray revealed he had scar tissue all over his lungs.
Mr White developed silicosis from dry cutting engineered stone, exposing him to the toxic silica dust.
Scarring of the lung tissue occurs if too much of this dust is inhaled and deposited in the air sacs, according to a fact sheet by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland.
What is silicosis?
A silicosis infected lung
Silicosis is the scarring of the lung tissue which leads to a shortness of breath due to a buildup of silica dust in the air sacs.
Symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, chest pain, loss of appetite, fatigue
Mr White needs to undergo a double lung transplant to survive but fears the worst.
‘I want to be as strong as possible. It’s hard. I want to be here for a bit longer,’ he told Lisa Wilkinson on Channel 10, The Sunday Project earlier this month.
Mr White hopes the practice of dry-cutting will be banned so others won’t have to suffer what he is going through.
Since he appeared on The Sunday Project, Mr White has spent the last few weeks in intensive care fighting a viral infection.
‘We could have lost him but he’s still fighting on and we are just taking it day by day at the moment,’ his mum Dianne said in statement to Daily Mail Australia.
‘We need some kind of change. We can’t let this go on killing our young men. I don’t care how we do it, with legislation or fines, it just needs to be done.’
Ms White said some of her son’s doctors hadn’t even heard of silicosis.
‘Unfortunately they are going to start seeing more of it if something isn’t done to stop dry cutting,’ Ms White said.
‘Anthony’s case isn’t a one off, there are going to be many young men affected like this and his condition is only going to get worse.’