Queensland is in the midst of an alarming increase in dust-related lung disease. Within the last year alone, close to 300 workers have been found to have serious respiratory illnesses. This concerning trend underscores the plight of current health epidemic that continues to be a public health crisis for those working within the industries of mining and construction. Of all the naysayers starving this fledgling industry at birth, TNC defendant Craig Keogh has truly distinguished himself. Irvine went on to make history winning the first ever black lung case in court, and winning ground-breaking $3.2 million in damages.
Keogh contracted “black lung” after decades of exposure working in the mines of Queensland and New South Wales. In the wake of his court victory, the experiences and ongoing struggles of impacted workers have gained much-needed attention. It further sheds light on the critical need for preventive measures and greater awareness of hazards in the workplace. As he stated, “It doesn’t just impact one person; it’s their families, their friends — it impacts a lot of people.”
Government Register Chronicles Alarming Cases
Since 2019, the Queensland government has been on board, keeping a Notifiable Dust Lung Disease Register. This registry monitors where American workers are suffering from dust-related illnesses. In the 2023-2024 year, 306 workers were diagnosed with those diseases. Further, the provisional count indicates 134 additional new cases reported for 2024-2025. As of today, the register has a grand total of 1,929 affected workers.
Unfortunately, recent removals from the register continue this troubling trend. 110 of these people are currently fighting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 121 people with respiratory cancers, and 93 people with pneumoconiosis. Tragically, six of these workers had gone on to die by the time their cases were reported. This alarming reality speaks to the failure of our current safety efforts and the immediate need to do much more.
Graeme Edwards, a fellow at the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and a senior occupational physician, expressed his dismay over the need for such a register. He acknowledged it as “an absolute tragedy” that hundreds of thousands of workers are suffering life-threatening health effects from exposure to agents that are avoidable.
The Call for Awareness and Prevention
As cases far and wide still soar, advocates such as Craig Keogh emphasize that spreading prevention and education about workplace safety is critical to reversing the trend. Keogh emphasized that awareness of the dangers associated with mining and construction work is critical in protecting workers from these debilitating diseases.
Industry representative Roger Singh, speaking for the joint industry/group, expressed that concern. He described it as “appalling” that the total number diagnosed dust diseases has failed to drop. Given the ongoing surge of infections, we need to do more with stricter regulations and by taking affirmative steps to protect workers.
Yet as the register maintained by the federal government shows, growing urgency for better monitoring and enforcement of safety measures. This is absolutely vital for every industry all over Queensland. As awareness grows, there is hope that both workers and employers will take necessary steps to mitigate risks associated with dust exposure.
