Overview

What are occupational lung diseases?

These diseases are very different from each other. How they affect the lungs depends on the hazardous agent and the protective measures put in place to reduce or manage exposure. They can be acute or chronic, malignant or non-malignant, or infectious.

We don’t know the full extent of occupational lung diseases in Australia yet, but the number of cases is growing. It’s particularly concerning to see a significant rise in cases of silicosis and black lung disease (coal workers’ pneumoconiosis) over the last 15 years.

Types of occupational lung diseases

There are many different types of occupational lung diseases, including:

• Pneumoconiosis, which includes:
  • Asbestosis
  • Silicosis
  • Black lung disease (coal worker’s pneumoconiosis).
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
• Mesothelioma
• Work-related asthma
• Occupational lung infections.

They are caused by many different hazardous agents, such as different types of dust, fibres, fumes, gases and other materials.

Depending on the type of hazardous agent a person is exposed to, symptoms might develop immediately. Or they could take months, years or decades after exposure to appear. With many occupational lung diseases, symptoms might only show up long after someone has stopped being exposed to the hazardous agent, or even after they’ve retired from work.

CPD-accredited training for healthcare professionals

Lung Foundation Australia has collaborated with The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) and other clinical experts in occupational lung disease to create a free online course for health professionals.

This course, called “Managing occupational lung disease: early detection, management and support”, was made to help all health professionals spot the signs of occupational lung disease and assist with early referrals and diagnosis.

By completing this training, you will be able to:

• Identify people at risk of occupational lung diseases by understanding common causes and using appropriate screening questions to activate clinically relevant diagnostic and referral pathways.
• Define occupational health monitoring and the role of the GP in assessing at-risk workers, as required by employers in at-risk industries under relevant regulations/legislation.
• Describe the patient’s right to make a workers’ compensation claim and the support available to workers throughout the process, including referring patients to support services or seeking individualised care guidance from experts.
• Outline the role of the multidisciplinary team in the care of someone diagnosed with an occupational lung disease.

Enrol today

Complete the form below to gain access to the free, self-paced eLearning module.

Helpful links

• The Australian and New Zealand Society of Occupational Medicine Inc (ANZSOM)
• Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (AFOEM)
• Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH)
• The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ)
• Royal Australasian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)