Nearly 300 workers who have developed deadly lung diseases after being exposed to dust at Queensland mines, construction projects and worksites have had their cases recorded on a government register in the past year.<\/p>\n
Of the 292 workers with cases added to the state’s Notifiable Dust Lung Disease Register, 121 were diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 96 had respiratory cancers and 93 had pneumoconiosis.<\/p>\n
Most workers were aged 60 years or older, but there were four workers aged between 20 and 39.<\/p>\n
Six of the workers had died by the time their case was recorded on the register.<\/p>\n
Workers were most frequently exposed to asbestos, followed by mixed dust, coal and silica, according to the register.<\/p>\n
All of the workers recorded were occupationally exposed in Queensland, with 94 per cent stating their primary exposure occurred in the state.<\/p>\n
The new cases have reignited warnings from doctors, lawyers and advocates that more needs to be done to prevent occupational dust exposure.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Craig Keogh developed “black lung” after working in mines in Queensland and New South Wales. (ABC News: Jack Rowland)<\/p>\n
Former coal miner Craig Keogh was diagnosed with pneumoconiosis \u2014 also known as “black lung” \u2014 in 2018, after being exposed at Queensland and New South Wales mines.<\/p>\n
He said the number of new cases was disgraceful.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“That’s 292 death sentences because there’s no cure,” Mr Keogh said.<\/p>\n
“Once you’ve got it, you’re on death’s door.<\/p>\n
“It doesn’t just impact one person, it’s their families, their friends \u2014 it impacts a lot of people.”<\/p>\n
After his diagnosis in 2018, Mr Keogh took his fight against several employers to court.<\/p>\n
He became the first person to win a black lung case at trial and was awarded $3.2 million in damages.<\/a><\/p>\n A scan showing black lung, one of the lung diseases caused by exposure to dust. (Supplied: Shine Lawyers)<\/p>\n “It’s destroyed me,” he said.<\/p>\n “I was healthy, fit and working, and as soon as I got diagnosed, I couldn’t walk onto a mine site.<\/p>\n “My career ended and the financial impact was huge, and the mental impact \u2014 it’s taken a big toll on me.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n