Workers across the Northern Rivers are being encouraged to take advantage of free lung health screenings as the NSW Government’s $2.5 million Lung Bus arrives in Tweed Heads.
The mobile screening clinic is operating in the region until June 5, offering checks for workers exposed to hazardous dusts, including crystalline silica, which has been linked to serious lung diseases including silicosis.
Several appointments remain available at the HACC Centre in Tweed Heads, with local businesses also being urged to register for the SafeWork NSW Silica Worker Register and ensure staff exposed to dangerous dusts receive appropriate health monitoring.
Workplace Health and Safety Minister Sophie Cotsis said the Lung Bus was designed to make potentially life-saving screenings more accessible for regional workers.
“The Lung Bus is about bringing essential services directly to the communities that need them most,” Ms Cotsis said.
“The Lung Bus tour removes barriers like cost and location, ensuring workers across NSW have access to screenings that could save their life.”
The screenings are aimed at workers in industries such as construction, stonemasonry, tunnelling and manufacturing, where exposure to respirable crystalline silica can occur.
Under NSW workplace health and safety laws, businesses with workers exposed to silica dust are required to provide health monitoring, with the Silica Worker Register helping authorities track compliance and improve worker protections.
Currently, 14 Northern Rivers businesses are registered on the online portal, but the NSW Government is encouraging more employers to sign up.
Ms Cotsis said regular health checks were critical for early detection and treatment.
“Annual screening of your workforce who are exposed to hazardous dusts like crystalline respirable silica is critical to early detection of diseases and support for workers and their health,” she said.
“The NSW Government is urging businesses in the Northern Rivers and across NSW to sign up to the Silica Worker Register to ensure the safety of their employees.”
The arrival of the Lung Bus forms part of a broader push by the Minns Government to reduce silica-related disease, including the statewide ban on engineered stone products containing more than one per cent crystalline silica.
Other measures introduced include a dedicated SafeWork NSW silica compliance team, the establishment of a tunnelling dust safety taskforce, and $5 million in funding for the Asbestos and Dust Diseases Research Institute to support research and treatment for dust-related illnesses.
North Coast Minister Janelle Saffin said the service was an important opportunity for local workers to prioritise their health.
“The Lung Bus is an excellent initiative that helps save lives through early detection of dust-related diseases,” Ms Saffin said.
“I encourage workers in the Tweed area to visit the Lung Bus when it comes to town. It’s an easy way to check for any risks and get peace of mind if you work in an industry where you might be exposed to dust.”
The Lung Bus is operating from the HACC Centre at the corner of Heffron Street and Minjungbal Drive in Tweed Heads from June 1 to June 5.
Read all the way through to the end of the story? So did lots of other people. Advertise with North Coast Times to reach locals who are interested and engaged. Find out more here.