Silica dust is the new asbestos: Lung Foundation Australia warns Aussies in new campaign
Ogilvy Health has partnered with the Lung Foundation Australia to launch an urgent new public health campaign, ‘Another One Fights the Dust’, calling on tradies to join the fight against silica dust and raise awareness of silicosis – which risks becoming the next asbestos.
The campaign coincides with the start of National Safe Work Month, and aims to reach the almost 600,000 Aussie workers currently exposed to silica dust*. Without intervention, experts warn silica dust exposure will cause over 10,000 new lung cancer cases and up to 100,000 silicosis cases**.
The national campaign aims to drive urgency on the threat of silica dust, and invites Aussie tradies and workplaces to implement preventative measures without delay.
Mark Brooke, CEO of Lung Foundation Australia, said there has never been a more important time to remind Aussies.
“Some Aussies may be familiar with silicosis given recent publicity around the association of the disease with engineered stone products. Whilst this is an important step, we know that any tradie who works with silica-containing materials is at risk of developing the potentially deadly lung condition that is silicosis,” he said.
Lung Foundation Australia is urging tradies to take its ‘Healthy Lungs at Work’ quiz to understand the risks – as one in two are unaware that there is no ‘safe level’ of silica dust exposure***.
“We want to appeal to Australians working in construction, mining, quarrying, tunnelling, and manufacturing, especially, of the need for vigilance when it comes to silica dust exposure, of the need for proactive individual health assessments on your individual silicosis risk,” Brooke continued.
“By completing Lung Foundation Australia’s ‘Healthy Lungs at Work’ quiz, tradies will have greater awareness of lung health hazards in their workplaces, like silica dust, and the proactive measures they can take to protect their lung health.”
The campaign also calls on workplaces to limit exposure, by following correct personal protective equipment (PPE) processes, and implementing the high standards necessary to protecting their workers.
It is live across radio, TV, social media and online, featuring on Lung Foundation Australia’s website.
*Silica dust exposure: What is it and what can you do about it? Lung Foundation Australia.
**The future burden of lung cancer and silicosis from occupational silica exposure in Australia: A preliminary analysis. Curtin University, 2022.
***Lung Foundation Australia. PureProfile Survey. July 2023.
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Lauren McNamara is a journalist at Mumbrella, covering the creative and PR beat. She joined in November 2022 as editorial assistant, after completing a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at UTS.
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