Silicosis: A silent killer in the workplace - What you need to know to protect yourself

As a leading supplier of safety and construction products, Jaybro is committed to providing our customers with safe and WHS-approved products. In line with this, we want to draw attention to the growing risk of silicosis in the construction industry and the importance of choosing safe products to protect workers.

Silica dust is a silent killer that can cause irreparable lung damage and it is a risk that exists in many construction environments. Although there has been a strong media focus on stonemasons, any worker coming into contact with silica on site should also be aware of the risks, due to some products containing hazardous silica particles.

Crystalline silica is a common and naturally occurring mineral found in stone, sand and clay. When rocks and clay are extracted from the ground or manufactured products are cut, sanded, ground, or drilled, these activities can produce a cloud of very fine dust known as respirable crystalline silica (RCS). Silica dust particles are 100 times smaller than a grain of sand, meaning workplace exposure can occur even when dry dust is swept or blown with compressed air, or wind takes the dust into surrounding areas.

Workers exposed to this dust can be at risk of silicosis, which is fibrosis or scarring of the lungs. Silicosis is incurable and can often result in loss of lung function, with scarring continuing to occur long after the exposure to crystalline silica dust has stopped. Workers who have developed silicosis can experience severe shortness of breath and become easily exhausted, as well as suffer from secondary silicosis complications such as lung cancer, emphysema, and kidney damage.

Safety authority codes of practice, such as WorkSafe Queensland’s ‘Managing respirable crystalline silica dust exposure in construction and manufacturing of construction elements 2022’, state that many common construction elements can potentially carry silicosis risk. In line with the Code and the national WHS Act, employers have a duty of care to manage any risks to health and ensure that any exposure remains below the listed workplace exposure standard.

At Jaybro, we take this issue seriously, which is why we stock two masks that are specifically used for Silicosis (silica) protection:

• Sundstrom Asbestos Kit with Half face respirator and P3 filters
• Maxiguard Half mask silicone general purpose kit

These masks are an indispensable form of personal protective equipment for workers at risk of inhaling silica dust. To provide effective protection against silica dust inhalation, masks must fit properly, and employers should ensure that their workers receive training on the proper use and maintenance of these devices.

Here at Jaybro, we understand the importance of providing our customers with safe and reliable products, and we remain committed to ensuring that all our products meet the highest safety standards. So, whether you are in general excavation, tunnel construction, mining, paving, concrete cutting, abrasive blasting, landfill environments, or foundry cutting, you can trust Jaybro to provide you with safe, WHS-approved safety products.

Contact us today to see how we can help you find the right mask for the job!