Investigating perspectives and attitudes of migrant construction workers about the risks of silica exposure and prevention of silicosis

Our recent study of silica-exposed workers found that 51% of stone benchtop industry (SBI) workers screened were born overseas, and 33% were born in an Asian country. The study showed that the risk of developing silicosis is unacceptably high among SBI workers. This study added to a growing body of evidence about the risks of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure, which led to the recent ban on the use of artificial or engineered stone benchtops in Australia. These high levels of disease are worrisome, more so as the worker population constitutes a large proportion of migrant workers, many of whom are non-English speaking. Safe Work Australia and other regulators regularly produce and disseminate safety guidance material and instructions for business owners and workers in these industries. However, there is limited knowledge about the perspectives of business owners and workers from different migrant backgrounds working with engineered stone or other high-risk construction activities about the risks and recommended prevention strategies, and usefulness of the materials provided. This information is essential to assess existing guidance and develop effective dissemination information about risks and prevention strategies targeted towards migrant workers from various ethnic backgrounds in the construction workforce. The proposed project is aimed at exploring the perspectives and attitudes towards current communication related to Occupational Health and Safety practices. Target participants include migrant workers and their employers in the stone benchtop industry and other construction industries with high migrant populations. The project will involve the use of different research methodologies including systematic reviews, quantitative and qualitative techniques.