Crystalline Silica- Free Alfred health assessment program for industry

WorkSafe has partnered with The Alfred Hospital to offer free health assessments to eligible workers in the quarrying industry to identify any crystalline silica related disease. The Alfred Occupational Respiratory Clinic (AORC) is located at The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne.

Why should you get a health assessment?

Recently in Victoria there has been an increase in identification of workers with silica-related diseases, including from the quarrying industry.

Dust containing silica can be harmful when it’s inhaled into your lungs over a long period of time at low to moderate levels, or short periods at high levels.

Silica exposure can lead to several diseases, including silicosis, lung cancer, kidney disease and autoimmune conditions including rheumatoid arthritis.

Early identification of silica-related diseases, including silicosis, allows earlier treatment which can greatly improve health outcomes.

Are you eligible?

The free silica health assessment program is available to workers in the Victorian quarrying industry where a worker meets all of criterion below:

• Workers who have not undergone any prior WorkSafe silicosis health assessment and;
  • have worked in the quarrying industry for 6 months or more; and
  • if they remain employed in the quarrying industry and work for a small or medium business with 30 employees or less
• Workers who have undergone a prior WorkSafe silicosis health assessment, and;
  • do not have a diagnosis of silicosis or other respirable crystalline silica-related disease;
  • have worked in the quarrying industry for 6 months or more; and
  • if they remain employed in the quarrying industry and work for a small or medium business with 30 employees or less

Eligible workers in Victoria’s quarrying industry can access the AORC for a free initial health assessment. After this assessment, the AORC will advise on the timing of a follow-up assessment and indicate whether it should be conducted at the AORC or with another medical professional.

Criteria for WorkSafe or the AORC referring a worker for follow up health assessments with the AORC:

Workers who have undergone an initial silica health assessment with the AORC and the AORC have clinically indicated that the worker requires a follow up health assessment with the AORC due to abnormalities that require further investigation, without a confirmed diagnosis of a work-related condition.

The AORC at the Alfred will also make available non-screening appointments for eligible workers in the quarrying industry with a referral from the workers general practitioner or other medical practitioner.

Criteria for referring to the AORC for non- screening appointments:

• Past and present workers in the quarrying industry in Victoria who have a diagnosis of silicosis or other respirable crystalline silica-related disease.
• Past and present workers in Victoria who have or are suspected to have an occupational respiratory condition that is not related to silica.
• Workers who have undergone an initial silicosis health assessment with the AORC and have a diagnosis of silicosis or other respirable crystalline silica-related disease.

How do I get started?
For more information or to start the process, phone WorkSafe Advisory on 1800 136 089 (option 2 then option 4) to speak directly to a Silica Advisor or email WorkSafe

A translation service is also available, mention this to the Advisor and they will dial a translator into the conversation.

Further information is available on the WorkSafe Victoria website

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