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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-06-04 Daily Xml
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Silicosis

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:14): My question is to the Treasurer. Can the Treasurer give the chamber any further information regarding silicosis and workers in the engineered stone industry?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (15:14): I thank the honourable member for his question. As I have indicated, I think on one or two previous occasions, the South Australian government is extremely concerned about the safety of workers in the engineered stone industry, particularly in relation to the ever-growing importance of the issue of silicosis. It's a national issue. It is not, obviously, an issue that the South Australian government has to address, but the national government is engaged and other state and territory governments are taking action in their respective jurisdictions as well.

I won't repeat what I believe I informed the chamber of on a previous occasion, but just update members on some recent actions that have occurred in relation to the issue of silicosis. The group that I have convened in an informal fashion has met again recently, and that group comprises representatives from SafeWork SA, ReturnToWorkSA, SA Health and the Mining and Quarrying Occupational Health and Safety Committee (MAQOHSC). They have met, I think, on about three or four occasions with me. At the most recent meeting, we had an update about the activities of what each agency was doing in terms of addressing in a coordinated way the issue of silicosis.

ReturnToWorkSA informed me and the group that they have now engaged Corporate Health Group and access programs to provide a free and confidential employee assistance program counselling service, up to three one-hour individual counselling sessions for the workers and the employer who may be impacted by direct exposure to silica dust in the course of their employment. These services can be accessed in both metropolitan and regional areas by phone, Skype or face to face. People can also access further counselling sessions where recommended by the provider and approved by ReturnToWorkSA.

In addition to those one-on-one counselling sessions offered to workers or immediate family members, the employee assistance program provider can also conduct free on-site group education sessions, where requested by the employer. On-site debriefing sessions can also be provided to the workplace and any affected workers by the employee assistance program provider.

The program's service can be utilised by affected workplaces and workers at multiple points, regardless of a diagnosis, i.e., prior to a health screening, during the health screening process, whilst the worker is waiting for results or once results have been communicated to the worker. It may also extend to the workers compensation claims process, depending on the nature of the support required.

Information about this program is available on the ReturnToWorkSA website, where promotional materials on the service are also being distributed by stakeholders, including SafeWork SA, MAQOHSC and Jobfit, which is the occupational health services provider that has been engaged to undertake the health screening of workers.

In addition, ReturnToWorkSA has met with the SA office of MATES in Construction to brief them on the silicosis screening program and the available services that are being provided. I would hope in the near future to be able to report to this council and publicly on the results of the health screening audits that are being conducted. As I have previously advised the council, I approved funding of $400,000 in January of this year to enable MAQOHSC to conduct those health assessments of workers in South Australia for silicosis.

It is a complex and complicated process. It can require a first test and then, I am advised, there are specialist screeners or readers that are currently only available from Queensland. If required, further assessment is required to be done by those particular specialists (at this stage only available in Queensland).

When more information on that becomes available, I am prepared to share that with the council. I am advised that, as at 24 May, 292 employees had been identified as requiring a health assessment. One hundred and seventy-five health assessments had been completed and, out of those, 29 had been referred to a respiratory physician. I am also advised that SafeWork SA inspectors are currently auditing all workplaces that they are aware of to ensure compliance with work health safety legislation. SafeWork SA is working with all PCBUs to reduce current and future exposure to respirable silicon dust.

Finally, on 30 April 2019 I was pleased to see, during the federal election campaign, the then federal government and now re-elected Morrison government announced $5 million to establish a national dust diseases task force, referred to as the national task force, to develop a national approach for the prevention, early identification, control and management of dust diseases in Australia. Members of the national task force will be drawn from the medical community, industry, researchers and government. I am advised the national task force will report to the COAG Health Council of which my ministerial colleague, the Minister for Health, is a member. That will commence as from July of this year.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Bonaros, a supplementary?

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