help, as smokingdamages thelungs. chronic bronchitis. Ifyou areasmoker, quitting may problems, such astuberculosis, lung cancer, and Patients withsilicosishave anincreased riskofother and atleastevery3years thereafter. occur before jobplacementoruponenteringatrade, NIOSH alsorecommendsthat medicalexaminations family asyou leave your jobsiteandheadhome. for otherstepstoprotectyourself taking andyour yourself. You areresponsiblefor usingit—always—and correct equipmentandclothingyou needtoprotect dust, your employer must, by law, give you the working. Ifyou work inajobthatexposes you tosilica national guidelinesonexposure limitsover alifetime of prevent silicosisby limiting exposure. There are main riskfactor isexposure tosilicadust. You can silicacausessilicosisandthe Breathing crystalline What Are RiskFactors ofSilicosis? • • Quarrying • • • • • Masonry • • • • These include: silicathatisinhaled. to crystalline A longlistofoccupationsisknown toexpose workers where theearth’s crust isdisturbed cancausesilicosis. soil, sand,granite,orotherminerals. Any occupation which comesfromchipping, cutting, orgrinding drilling, Silicosis iscausedby silica, exposure tocrystalline What CausesSilicosis? Stone cutting work Steel industry Ceramics work Glass manufacturing Sand blasting Tunnel work Construction work rock mining Various forms such ofmining, ascoalandhard MEETINGS AREHELD Donations of$2andabove deductible. aretax is anendorsedcharity withtick of approval. ACV/GARDS isanotfor profitorganisationand at Chadstone. Call infor achat andcuppa-pleasenotenooffice Fridayby Appointment Monday - Thursday, 10.00am -4:00pm OFFICE HOURS www.gards.org Web: Email:  Ph: 0407274173 (24/7) 211 Lloyd Street,Moe, Vic. 3825 Asbestos Councilof Victoria/GARDS Inc. PLEASE CONTACT Mobile: 0407274 173 211 Lloyd Street,Moe Venue: ACV/GARDSoffice Last Tuesday ofthemonth–1.30pm –3.30pm Regional Mobile: 0481987953 34 Amaroo Street,Chadstone Venue: Amaroo NeighbourhoodCentre 2nd Monday ofthemonth-1.30 -3.30pm Metro

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Revised -October 2019 related lungdiseasesfirstlySilicosis support beyond asbestosrelateddiseasestootherdust diseases, ourorganisationisdeterminedtoexpand As aresultoftheemergencethesedustrelatedlung Not-For-Profit Commission(ACNC). profit registeredwiththecharity Australian Charitiesand helping silicosissufferers andtheirfamilies. Itisanot-for diseases, theirfamilies andcarersnow we are 1991 tohelpandsupportsufferers ofasbestosrelated Victoria/ GARDS, which wasin established The supportgroupsareapartof Asbestos Councilof (coal workers pneumoconiosis). (silicosis) andcoalminingindustries related lungdiseaseintheengineeredstonebench top response totheincreaseindiagnosisofdust Our SilicosisSupportgroupswere in established Silicosis Support Group Silicosis EXPOSURE

Asbestos Over many decades ACV/GARDS has had a proud What can Silica do? People with acute silicosis experience cough, weight history of providing support through: Dust related lung disease occurs when the human body loss, tiredness, and may have fever or a sharp chest • Meetings of members to share experiences, enjoy is unable to break-down or remove certain types of dust pain. You may also have shortness of breath over the support and company of other members and once it has entered deep into the lungs. When silica time, especially with chronic silicosis. Your health- make connections with those who may be facing dust lies within the lung tissues, chemical reactions care provider might hear crackles or wheezing when similar challenges; can occur which result in tissue injury followed by the listening to your lungs. Having silicosis increases the • Facilitation of community meetings to provide healing response of the lung. This is like an injury to risk of other problems, such as tuberculosis, lung current information and hear from a variety of people the skin, such as a cut, which usually heals leaving cancer, and chronic bronchitis. who are in the asbestos arena & now silica for a small scar. Dust lodged in the lungs can cause medical, environmental, OH&S and many more an inflammatory process, scarring in the lungs and Each type of silicosis affects the body somewhat • Access to Allied Health workers and medical reducing the body’s ability to take oxygen into the differently: specialists; blood and remove carbon dioxide. Damage to the lung • In acute silicosis, the lungs become very inflamed • Telephone support tissue initially causes areas of small scars, in the form and can fill with fluid, which causes severe • Referral to personal injury lawyers in relation to of nodules which can be seen on a chest x-ray. Lung shortness of breath and low blood oxygen levels. potential compensation claims. scarring caused by silica is silicosis. • In chronic silicosis, the silica dust causes areas of The support group operates on the same long-standing swelling in the lungs and chest lymph nodes, which principles and services that has How much exposure does it take? makes breathing more difficult. supported those suffering from asbestos related Development of dust related lung disease depends • In accelerated silicosis, swelling in the lungs and diseases. We will meet that same high standard for on several factors, such as the amount, how often and symptoms occur faster than in chronic silicosis. silicosis sufferers for how long a worker is exposed to silica containing dust. Some people are more susceptible than others Over time, lung capacity decreases, and people with What is Crystalline Silica? to developing disease even though they may have had silicosis may need support with oxygen and other Crystalline silica (silica) is found in sand, stone, concrete similar patterns of workplace exposure. devices to help them breathe. and mortar. It is also used as the primary filler for engineered (artificial stone, which has become very What is Silicosis? Silicosis Symptoms, Causes, and Risk Factors popular for the fabrication of kitchen and bathroom There are three types of silicosis: benchtops) When workers cut, crush, drill, polish, saw or • Acute silicosis, which causes cough, weight loss, What Are the Symptoms of Silicosis? grind products that contain silica, tiny dust particles are and fatigue within a few weeks or years of exposure Symptoms of silicosis can appear from a few weeks generated that are small enough to lodge deep in the to inhaled silica. to many years after exposure to silica dust. Symptoms lungs and cause diseases including silicosis. • Chronic silicosis, which appears 10 to 30 years typically worsen over time as scarring in the lungs Different types of rock and rock products can contain after exposure and can affect upper lung areas and occurs. different amounts of silica sometimes causes extensive scarring,. The amount of crystalline silica in products can vary. • Accelerated silicosis, which occurs within 10 years Cough is an early symptom and develops over time Examples include: of high-level exposure with exposure to silica that is inhaled. brick: 5-15% ceramic tiles: 5-45% Silicosis can develop within a few weeks to even In acute silicosis, you may experience fever and Demolition Dust 3 – 4% decades after exposure. When people breathe silica sharp chest pain along with breathing difficulty. These Shale 22% dust, they inhale tiny particles of the mineral silica. This symptoms can come on suddenly. Clay bricks 15 – 27% silica dust can cause fluid build-up and scar Aggregates in concrete 30% tissue in the lungs that cuts down your ability to In chronic silicosis, you may only have an abnormal Fibre cement bricks 10 – 30% breathe. This can lead to lung scarring and cough, chest x-ray in the beginning and then slowly develop Granite 25-40% weight loss, and fatigue. a cough and breathing difficulty. More than a third Natural sandstone 67% of people with silicosis have phlegm production and Engineered artificial or reconstituted stone 90% How Silicosis Affects Your Body cough. Chronic bronchitis like symptoms may occur, (The above represents typical concentrations) Silicosis affects the lungs by damaging the lining of the and the lungs have additional sounds called wheezes If you’re not sure if a product contains crystalline silica, lung air sacs. Once this begins, it leads to and crackles. As extensive scarring progresses over check the safety data sheet (SDS). scarring and, in some situations, to a condition called time, you may see signs of chronic lung disease, such progressive massive fibrosis. This condition as leg swelling, increased breathing rate, and bluish happens when there is severe scarring and stiffening of discolouration of the lips. If you are concerned you the lung, which makes it difficult to breathe. have Silicosis see your doctor. Also contact a personal injury lawyer.