Tradies are being urged to join the fight in a national health campaign amid a "frightening" rise in silicosis cases.
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Almost 600,000 workers are being exposed to silica dust, and experts warn without intervention, more than 10,000 new lung cancer cases will be created.
Up to 100,000 silicosis cases, a debilitating lung disease, are expected to be recorded due to exposure to silica dust.
Lung Foundation Australia, in response to the worrying findings on Friday, launched a campaign to raise awareness about the troubling statistics and condition.
It warned Australia was experiencing a "frightening rise" in silicosis cases, which were all "entirely preventable".
Foundation chief executive Mark Brooke said sectors in mining and manufacturing needed to be particularly vigilant.
"Any tradie who works with silica-containing materials is at risk of developing the potentially deadly lung condition that is silicosis," he said.
The ad campaign "another one fights the dust" will be played across radio and TV, as well as featuring on social media.
Research from the charity found one in five tradies did not think their workplace was doing enough to manage or prevent the risk of silicosis.
More than 30 per cent said they would not report their workplace for failing to manage their exposure to silica dust.
Silicosis is caused by breathing in small particles of silica dust, which is created when cutting, drilling, grinding or polishing certain types of stone, rock, sand and clay.
Inhaling the dust causes inflammation which over time leads to scarring of the lung tissue and makes it difficult to breathe.
Australian Associated Press
