Information for medical practitioners to support their investigation or treatment of patients who work with engineered stone and have been exposed to high levels of respirable crystalline silica (RCS, or silica dust).

Context

This document provides information for medical practitioners on the joint agency response to accelerated silicosis to support their investigation or treatment of patients who work with engineered stone and have been exposed to high levels of respirable crystalline silica (RCS, or silica dust).

What is the Accelerated Silicosis Assessment Pathway and where do I find information on it?

WorkSafe New Zealand, ACC and Ministry of Health (Manatū Hauora) formed a joint agency response to accelerated silicosis in engineered stone workers in 2019. Health New Zealand (Te Whatu Ora) replaced the Ministry as a member of the joint agency response in 2024. A pathway to assess the health of eligible engineered stone workers was implemented in September 2020. Engineered stone is an artificially manufactured stone with high levels of crystalline silica (sometimes 90% or more) used mainly for kitchen and bathroom benchtops.

The Accelerated Silicosis Assessment Pathway enables engineered stone workers who meet the exposure threshold (worked directly with engineered stone for more than six months in the last 10 years) to have their health checked by a medical practitioner – typically a general practitioner.

The medical practitioner can lodge an ACC claim if at least some of the exposure occurred in a New Zealand workplace. An alternative pathway is available for workers whose exposure occurred outside New Zealand and who are eligible for public health care in this country.

Find information about:

• Accelerated Silicosis Assessment Pathway | Health New Zealand(external link)
• The general process | Health New Zealand(external link)
• Detailed guidance for health practitioners on each step | Health New Zealand(external link)

General practice teams, including general practitioners and practice nurses, can access information on how to refer eligible patients into the assessment pathway through a Silica Exposure HealthPathway.

What should I do if a patient tells me that an engineered stone business is dry cutting engineered stone?

Dry cutting engineered stone without effective controls in place is an unacceptable practice. Please notify WorkSafe if you are aware of an engineered stone business that continues to dry cut engineered stone.

You can do that by submitting a Raise a concern form on the WorkSafe website

You should include:

• the words ‘engineered stone’ when you describe your concern (for example, worker dry cutting engineered stone)
• your name and contact details so WorkSafe can follow up with you if necessary
• the name and location of the business and (if known) their contact details
• the date the information was given to you.

WorkSafe does not need to know the name of the patient. However you should let the patient know that you intend to notify WorkSafe so there are no surprises for them if WorkSafe contacts their workplace.

Do I need to notify anyone of a silica-related health condition in a patient?

Yes. You are required to notify a Medical Officer of Health if you find a person who is not admitted to a hospital with a health condition caused by exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS, or silica dust). This applies to any silica-related health condition not just silicosis. A person in charge of a hospital has a simliar obligation to notify a Medical Officer of Health. The notification should be made through your usual notification channels to a Medical Officer of Health.

The Medical Officer of Health in turn is required to notify WorkSafe of that health condition. You should advise the Medical Officer of Health of the following to assist them with their notification obligation to WorkSafe:

• that you are notifying them under s143(2A) of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (respirable crystalline silica being a hazardous substance under that Act)
• the name of the person with the health condition
• the nature of the health condition, and
• that you believe the health condition arose from the patient’s work.

Further information

National guidance for doctors assessing workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica dust | Australian Government(external link)