occupational hazards

Poorly managed working practices, including poor provision of education to artificial stonecutters, has led to what has been called an epidemic of silicosis. Tony Kirby reports.

On Feb 21, 2019, Australia's national news network ABC reported the results of an audit of the stonecutting industry ordered by the Queensland Government late in 2018, after several silicosis cases were reported to state regulators. Stonemasons are exposed because crystalline silica is produced during the drilling and cutting of products such as manufactured stone, tiles, and bricks. In the past decade, there has been a huge growth in these products, driven by increased new home construction across Australia.