| 1. IDENTIFICATION & BASIC DESCRIPTION |
|
Cohort name
|
| |
The Silica-associated Lung Disease Projects
|
|
Country
|
| |
|
|
Name
|
| |
Prof Malcolm Sim
|
|
Institution
|
| |
Monash University
|
|
Email
|
| |
Malcolm.Sim@monash.edu
|
|
Personal website
|
| |
https://research.monash.edu/en/persons/malcolm-sim
|
|
Do you want to add another Principal Investigator of the Cohort
|
| |
- Add another Principal Investigator of the cohort
|
|
Name
|
| |
Dr Ryan Hoy
|
|
Institution
|
| |
Monash University
|
|
Email
|
| |
Ryan.Hoy@monash.edu
|
|
Personal website
|
| |
https://research.monash.edu/en/persons/ryan-hoy
|
|
Website
|
| |
- https://www.monash.edu/medicine/sphpm/coeh/research/silica-associated-lung-disease-projects
|
|
Name of committee
|
| |
Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee
|
|
Or provide website
|
| |
- https://www.monash.edu/medicine/sphpm/coeh/research/silica-associated-lung-disease-projects
|
|
Contact Principal Investigator (name)
|
| |
Prof Malcolm Sim, Dr Ryan Hoy
|
|
Is this cohort part of a consortium? (name consortium)
|
| |
WorkSafe Victoria
|
|
Main aim of cohort, please briefly describe the main objectives of the cohort
|
| |
This population-based health assessment programme has been implemented with the aim of identifcation of silica-associated disease at a preclinical stage.
|
|
Study design (please select as many as appropriate)
|
| |
|
|
Source population (please select as many as appropriate)
|
| |
- Industry / occupation-based
|
|
Comparators (please select as many as appropriate)
|
| |
- Internal study population
|
|
Inclusion criteria
|
| |
All current and former workers from the stone benchtop industry in the State of Victoria.
|
|
Enrollment
|
| |
Ongoing
|
|
Age range at entry (subcohort)
|
| |
| Minimum |
Maximum |
Mean |
Please describe |
| 29 |
46 |
|
|
|
|
Men at enrollment
|
| |
86
|
| 2. OUTCOME FOLLOW-UP |
|
Type of data for outcome follow-up (please select as many as appropriate)
|
| |
- Active (contact with participants)
- Hospital / physician diagnoses
|
|
Active (contact with participants) (specify)
|
| |
- Primary evaluations include a standardised questionnaire, physical examination, spirometry and gas transfer assessment and International Labour Organisation-categorised chest X-ray.
|
|
Hospital / Physician diagnoses (specify)
|
| |
- Physical examination, spirometry and gas transfer assessment and International Labour Organisation-categorised chest X-ray. Secondary evaluations include high-resolution CT chest, blood tests and a respiratory physician evaluation.
|
|
First follow-up period (provide year)
|
| |
12 months
|
|
Last follow-up period (provide year)
|
| |
2020
|
|
Number of follow-ups after baseline (provide number)
|
| |
0
|
| 3. OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURES |
|
Source of exposure data collected (please select as many as appropriate)
|
| |
- Questionnaire, Personal (Self-reporting or interview)
- Questionnaire, Personal (Occupational/industry modules)
- Industry-based questionnaire
- Job-employment records
- Registry-based
|
|
Occupational history/time frame
|
| |
Current, at enrollment
|
|
Occupational coding performed
|
| |
No
|
|
Types of exposure measurements
|
| |
|
|
Methods for exposure assessment (please select as many as appropriate)
|
| |
|
|
Main categories
|
| |
|
|
Main categories | Other | Specify: Other
|
| |
Silica dust from artificial stone materials.
|
|
Comments
|
| |
Summary
Since 2015 there has been an alarming re-emergence of silicosis in Australia, primarily affecting workers who fabricate and install kitchen benchtops from high silica content artificial stone materials. Cutting, grinding and polishing artificial stone can result in generation of high levels of very fine silica dust particles. When inhaled by workers these particles can cause lung scarring (silicosis), which may require lung transplantation or lead to premature death. Silica dust exposure also increases the risk of autoimmune diseases such as scleroderma, as well as lung cancer.
WorkSafe Victoria has commissioned MonCOEH to fill gaps in evidence related to this re-emergence of silicosis around prevalence, burden of illness and risk factors. This evidence will assist WorkSafe Victoria to address the occupational health issues in this industry and to inform the advice provided to employers about their occupational health and safety obligations.
WorkSafe Victoria launched a free health assessment program in 2019, with the aim of screening all Victorian stone benchtop industry workers for silica-related diseases. MonCOEH’s work comprises two project domains, both of which leverage data from this screening program.
1. Screening Registry: records relevant occupational and health information from workers participating in the WorkSafe Victoria free health assessment program.
2. Silica-associated Disease Registry: captures medical information on workers with possible or diagnosed silicosis and other silica-associated conditions from all industries.
|
| 4. OUTCOMES EVALUATED |
|
Baseline - type of outcome data collected (select more than one if applicable)
|
| |
- Clinical/functional evaluation, e.g. spirometry, ECGs (specify)
- Registry-based
|
|
Specify: Clinical/functional evaluation, e.g. spirometry, ECGs
|
| |
Spirometry and gas transfer assessment and International Labour Organisation-categorised chest X-ray
|
|
Registry-based
|
| |
|
|
Specify: Other
|
| |
Silica disease registry
|
|
Follow-up - type of outcome data collected (select more than one if applicable)
|
| |
- Clinical/functional evaluation, e.g. spirometry, ECGs (specify)
|
|
Specify: Clinical/functional evaluation, e.g. spirometry, ECGs
|
| |
Secondary evaluations include high-resolution CT chest, blood tests and a respiratory physician evaluation.
|
|
Diagnostic groups based on ICD10
|
| |
|
|
J Respiratory disease
|
| |
|
|
J Respiratory disease | Other (specify)
|
| |
Silicosis
|
| 6. Other Information |
|
Please describe plans that are funded or most likely to be funded
|
| |
Victoria has an estimated 1,400 workers in the stone benchtop industry who may be exposed to silica dust through work-related activities. These projects will help WorkSafe Victoria deliver evidence-based advice to employers to support their health through better prevention strategies, improved health screening and early diagnosis. The data captured by the registries may also inform further epidemiological studies into the emerging condition.
|
