Occupational Lung Diseases
Occupational lung diseases include a broad range of lung diseases that may be acute, sub-acute or chronic, and either malignant, non-malignant, or infectious in nature.
Occupational lung diseases are work-associated respiratory conditions that are often caused by repeated and long-term exposure to hazardous dust, chemicals, gases, and irritants.
These lung illnesses may result in chronic, acute, sub-acute, and infectious, malignant, or non-malignant conditions. Among the most common occupational lung diseases include work-related asthma, coal worker’s pneumoconiosis, silicosis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), asbestosis, and mesothelioma.
These lung diseases can also be from repeated exposure and even a severe, single exposure from hazardous agents such as dust with aluminium, asbestos, beryllium dust or vapours, and dust from hard metals.
Industries at risk
Industries such as construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and engineered stone, where workers are frequently exposed to numerous respiratory hazards, are at the most risk for the prevalence of occupational lung diseases.
Some of the common tasks in these industries that expose workers to hazards include:
- Creating dust when cutting, grinding, crushing, and polishing concrete, pavers, bricks, tiles, and engineered stone
- Exposure to asbestos-containing materials
- Welding metals which can release hazardous fumes
- Breathing in exhaust fumes from power tools
- Working with chemicals such as pesticides, paints, and adhesives
- Breathing in fumes from fumigation processes
- Working around microorganisms
- Medical products and pharmaceuticals that release fumes
- Disposing of/cleaning up silica dust
Current Initiatives
Occupational lung disease is a priority condition under the Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012–2022. As such, Safe Work Australia has developed a work plan for occupational lung diseases.
This work plan is currently being implemented and aims to raise awareness of the duties and control measures for eliminating and minimising airborne contaminants that cause occupational lung disease at the workplace. Furthermore, it also aims to inform the development of effective national policy.
Safer Welding Solutions by SMENCO
In line with Safe Work Australia’s initiatives for eliminating and minimising the risks and exposure to hazards that cause occupational lung disease, SMENCO offers welding products and solutions such as the Kemper Welding Fume Extraction and Filter units and Optrel Swiss Air, that aid in protecting workers from being exposed to these occupational lung diseases brought about by inhalation of toxic fumes and hazards.
