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e-Toolkit

Silicosis and dust-related diseases

A note from our CEO
Section I: Taking action to eliminate silicosis and dust-related diseases
Ideal management approaches
Current challenges and uncertainties
National action plans and strategies for silicosis/dust diseases
Potential issues arising from action
Section II: Country summaries, case studies and resources
Silica country summaries – Australia
Silica country summaries – International
Pneumoconiosis case studies
Research on silicosis and dust-related diseases
Section III: What silica and other occupational dusts are and the risks they pose
Mineralogical features of silica
Other dust/fume-related exposures
Exposure pathways
Historical progression of silica and other dust-related diseases
Section IV: Health impacts of exposure to asbestos
What are dust/fume-related diseases?
How are dust-related diseases diagnosed?
Clinical features of silicosis and other dust-related diseases
Patient support, care and information
Reporting, coding and registration of occupational dust-related diseases

Coal miners pneumoconiosis (black lung)

What is Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis?

Coal workers’ pneumoconiosis is a lung disease most often caused by breathing in coal dust over a long period of time. It’s also known as ‘black lung disease’.

It’s not only underground coal miners who can be affected. If you’ve been a worker in an industry that involves mining (underground or open cut) or dealing with coal in another way such as loading or transporting, you could be at risk.

CWP can affect people in different ways. It all depends on how long you’ve been exposed to coal dust, differences in the dust itself, and other factors unique to you.

Occupational Lung Disease – coal workers’ pneumoconiosis and mine dust diseases

Occupational lung diseases are conditions of the respiratory system caused by workplace exposure to dusts, gases, fumes, vapours, mists and microorganisms.

What diseases can coal dust cause?

If a worker is exposed to and breathes in coal dust over a long period of time they could develop:

  • pneumoconiosis
  • progressive massive fibrosis, and
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Mine dust diseases are caused by long term exposure to high concentrations of respirable dust, generated during mining and quarrying activities.

What is coal workers’ pneumoconiosis?

Pneumoconioses are a group of interstitial lung diseases caused by breathing in dust particles. Coal workers pneumoconiosis (also referred to a black lung disease and miners’ lung) is caused by breathing in coal dust. Pneumoconiosis can be simple or complicated – it can cause a small amount of scar tissue or nodules. If it is complicated, it can cause progressive massive fibrosis.

What causes coal workers’ pneumoconiosis?

Workers can develop coal workers’ pneumoconiosis by breathing in coal dust, often in large amounts, over a long period of time (chronic inhalation). Mine dust can lead to pathological changes in the lungs – which can be fibrotic or nodular such as coal workers’ pneumoconiosis or mixed dust pneumoconiosis. Or they can be non-nodular such as lung cancer.

Who is at risk of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis?

Workers in the mining industry or anyone who is exposed to coal and dusts associated with mining work. Workers may be at increased risk of developing coal workers’ pneumoconiosis if they smoke and are exposed to a high level of coal dust over a long period of time.

What you must do as an employer?

Employers and businesses must eliminate the risks of respirable coal dust or if this is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks so far as is reasonably practicable.

In Australia, the workplace exposure standard for coal dust varies between states and territories. Under the model WHS laws, employers and businesses have duties to:

  • identify the hazard (coal dust)
  • control the risk of exposure to coal dust
  • ensure the workplace exposure standard is not exceeded
  • conduct air monitoring if you are not certain the airborne concentration of coal dust exceeds the exposure standard
  • provide health monitoring for workers who have been exposed or are at risk of exposure to coal dust.

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