SWA launches campaign to combat lung disease in the workplace

Safe Work Australia has launched an occupational lung disease awareness campaign, titled Clean Air. Clear Lungs., which will run until December 2021. Safe Work Australia Chief Executive Officer Michelle Baxter said the campaign will help raise awareness about the risk of occupational lung disease, which continues to be a major work health and safety concern in Australia. Occupational lung diseases are conditions of the respiratory system caused by workplace exposure to hazardous chemicals and dusts.

“The Occupational lung diseases in Australia 2006–2019 report highlighted a substantial increase in coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, as well as silicosis from working with engineered stone,” Baxter said.

The national campaign is designed to educate persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) on how to eliminate and manage the risks of their workers developing an occupational lung disease. The campaign kit is available on the Safe Work Australia website and has a suite of resources to help identify hazards and eliminate and manage the risks of occupational lung disease in the workplace.

“Not all hazards in the workplace are visible. Dusts, gases, fumes or vapours can be invisible to the naked eye but can cause serious lung diseases. It’s incredibly important to know what hazards exist at your workplace and how to eliminate and manage them,” Baxter said.

The Clean Air. Clear Lungs. campaign is supported by initiatives across Australia from Safe Work Australia members, including work health and safety regulators.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Aaron Amat