"Then it's up to the state and territory governments to enact laws in their local jurisdictions to ensure that workers are getting less exposed and better protected in the workplace and that the governments are regulating and ensuring employers are doing the right thing."ĭust diseases principal lawyer Jonathan Walsh on a client's rural property. "Employers and governments need to make sure industries are screened to ensure workers with this disease know they have it … so they can make informed decisions and choices about what they're going to do with their life going forward - right now, that is not happening." "It starts with setting a better federal framework via SafeWork Australia to reduce the maximum allowable dust exposure limit … ensuring they have better PPE and ensuring there is mandated engineering controls in the workplace," Mr Walsh said. Mr Walsh said tougher national workplace regulations were "absolutely required," with early detection crucial. ( ABC News: Peter Gunders) Stronger national regulations needed, experts say Lawyer Jonathan Walsh represents Tony Kotlin and is acting for several other underground mining workers with silicosis. "With the Labor government, there is an opportunity to refocus much-needed attention on this issue." "There is a massive problem, particularly when you compare it to stonemasonry silicosis and the attention that that issue rightfully deserves, we're not seeing the same spotlight being shone on the metalliferous mining industry. "We are not seeing the rates of diagnosis out of this industry being reported by governments or in the general industry. "There are probably hundreds of workers underground today who have silica disease - they don't know it but they should know it," Mr Walsh said. He said there was a "significant under-reporting" of the disease, particularly in the metalliferous mining sector, covering both surface and underground mining. ( Supplied)ĭust diseases lawyer Jonathan Walsh, who represents Mr Kotlin in a claim for damages, has acted for dozens of other underground miners with silicosis over the past year. "Those numbers don't count those who will develop the disease from other exposures such as miners, quarry workers, or others in the crafts, building and construction industries," Dr Edwards said.ĪCTU assistant secretary Liam O’Brien says the disease is "entirely preventable" through safe workplace practices. "A significant proportion of those workers who have already been exposed have not yet developed disease but will do so in the future. Leading dust diseases clinician Graeme Edwards said the true number was likely higher, with symptoms often taking years to develop. There has been a strong national focus on the engineered stone workforce, with at least 500 Australian stonemasons diagnosed, but there are fears many more cases remain undetected.
The number of known silicosis cases in Australia is rapidly climbing. "I honestly think if attitudes don't change, it's going to get a lot, lot worse than what it is now." Cases detected 'just the tip of the iceberg'
"I think silicosis will be worse than asbestos," Mr Kotlin said. Mr Kotlin said he believed not enough was being done to protect workers exposed to dangerous levels of silica dust. "I feel guilty that I'm not full-time supporting my family - it's extremely hard." " depression, anxiety … I'm very uncomfortable around people, I don't go to the supermarket, I don't walk down the street. "I'm on a breathing machine at night now, which I absolutely hate. "I'm tired all the time, I find it hard to consistently do day-to-day chores, I have a fair bit of difficulty in walking long distances, carrying things if they're heavy," Mr Kotlin said. Mr Kotlin, who lives in a rural town south-west of Brisbane, is still coming to terms with the diagnosis, which he says affects all aspects of his life. Tony Kotlin was suprised by his diagnosis.
0 kommentar(er)
