A Melbourne bricklayer who worked on projects including the MCG refurbishment has been awarded the maximum compensation allowance after developing lung cancer linked to his work.
Jeff Marshall received the largest possible no-fault WorkCover payment of $640,000 after he developed lung cancer linked to working with dry cutting equipment in his bricklaying work.
Crystalline silica is a known byproduct of brick cutting, although artificial stone manufacturing and cutting’s popularity makes it one of the more significant threats currently.
According to the Cancer Council, 600,000 Australians are exposed to silica dust at work every year.
Mr Marshall was forced to retire at 60 due to his breathing difficulties, and only ten years later, he has lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and is receiving palliative care.
He recalls coming home from his work as a bricklayer covered in silica powder from cutting bricks, often with a dry angle-grinder. He explains that the attitude of PCBUs throughout his career was largely one of ‘getting the job done’.
He has urged everyone who works with cement, tiles and bricks to ‘wear all the breathing protection you can get’.
Professor Lin Fritschi, Chair of Cancer Council’s Silica Working Group told Daily Mail Australia that there had not been an elimination of risks for dust-related diseases for tradies.
‘This means tradies in industries such as construction, manufacturing, stonemasonry, mining, quarrying, tunnelling, and demolition are potentially at risk of developing dust-related diseases, including lung cancer,’ she said.
Ms Fritschi said the most concerning aspect is ‘the uncontrolled use of power tools to cut, grind, trim, drill, sand, or polish materials containing crystalline silica.