THE UNIVERSITY of Western Sydney has embarked on a partnership with the Queensland government to investigate the effects of silica dust on miners.
Silica dust can cause acute silicosis, which is a slow-developing but serious lung disease.
The investigative study will look at how silica dust is controlled on work sites, as well as further improvements that can be made to the process.
The Queensland Mines Inspectorate, which is participating in the study, has sent a questionnaire to the industry so as to identify activities where workers may be exposed to silica dust.
30 sites will be selected to take part in the study.
The researchers say they hope the research results will identify ways to improve dust control and deliver benchmarks for best practice in the workplace.
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