A Gold Coast stonemason who was one of the first diagnosed with the devastating lung disease silicosis has died.
Anthony White passed away on Saturday, his younger brother Shane has told Nine News, from complications relating to his debilitating lung condition.
Shane said Anthony had been feeling positive in the days before his death and had recently been put on a waiting list for a double lung transplant.
“He said he was starting to feel better. He was saying I feel like everything is starting to go well,” Shane said.
“Everything was starting to go on the up for him, so it was quite sudden in that way.”
Anthony was just 36 years old and is believed to be the first stonemason to die from silicosis after the crisis was first brought to light last year.
He was initially diagnosed with the condition in 2017 after initially thinking he was suffering from pneumonia.
Silicosis is an irreversible lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust, with many manufactured stone products, such as kitchen and bathroom benchtops, containing up to 90 per cent crystalline silica.
As a result, stonemasons who work for businesses which do not have appropriate safety measures can very quickly be affected by the debilitating condition, which is often only treatable with a lung transplant.
Shine Lawyers’ dust disease expert Roger Singh said the death highlighted the need for a national approach to the crisis.
“Anthony’s death is an absolute tragedy and something which could have, and should have, been avoided,” Mr Singh said.
“The time for talk, investigation and debate has to be over, and action taken.
“We urge that there be a co-ordinated approach led by the federal government to roll out a vigorous nationwide regulation of the stonemason industry.”
Queensland Industrial Relations Minister Grace offered her condolences to Anthony’s family.
“Even in the face of immense personal tragedy, Mr White showed incredible bravery in highlighting the deadly consequences of prolonged and unsafe exposure to silica dust,” Ms Grace said.
“We owe it to all victims and families who are impacted by work-related deaths to do everything possible to prevent further tragedies and ensure that employers meet their obligations to provide safe workplaces.”
The Queensland government is currently investigating eight businesses for systemic breaches of workplace rules regarding silica, following a state wide audit.
The government has also explicitly banned the practise of “dry-cutting” stone products, which generates excessive amounts of dust which is easily inhaled even with safety equipment.
A total of 98 Queensland workers have been diagnosed with silicosis so far, with 799 others referred for testing, with the disease referred to as the “new asbestos”.
It’s believed the crisis could eventually see thousands of stonemasons affected across the country, with other states also looking into measures to crack down on unsafe practises in the stonecutting industry.
Of particular concern is how quickly silicosis can affect a person who is regularly exposed to silica dust, unlike cases of mesothelioma related to asbestos, which can take decades to manifest.
This means young workers are being hit with a crippling and potentially fatal condition which they could carry for the rest of their lives.
WHAT IS SILICOSIS?
The progressive, irreversible lung disease is caused by long-term exposure to silica dust, which is created when artificial or engineered stone is cut.
Symptoms can include shortness of breath, cough, fever, cyanosis (bluish skin) and frequent chest infections, which can eventually lead to lung transplants and death.
If you are concerned about silicosis and are based in Queensland, where the majority of cases have been diagnosed, contact WorkCover on 1300 362 128 to arrange a health screen.
