Silicosis strikes at Australia’s biggest gold mine

Since 2020, the dust problem – which centres around grinders that crush silica-containing rock to allow the precious metal to be extracted – has been highlighted six times by WA safety regulator WorkSafe.

The danger comes when fine silica particles too small to see are inhaled and are lodged in the deepest, tiny reaches of the lung. Hoy said the silica particles were toxic to the cells that try to clear the lungs of debris, so the silica builds up, inflammation leads to scarred tissue, and gradually the lung loses its ability to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream.

“Detecting this as early as possible is so important … that reduces the likelihood of it progressing,” Hoy said, adding that there were no treatments to reverse the scarring.