Hamish’s bosses preached safety. Then he was diagnosed with a deadly disease

Hamish Studholme, a Sydney tunneller diagnosed with incurable silicosis in 2023, is suing former employers after two decades on major infrastructure projects. A new survey of 290 Australian tunnelling workers found 63 percent reported barriers to dust control, with researchers concluding safety commitments were often performative rather than substantive. Nearly half of respondents distrusted regulator effectiveness.

Summary by Glance · Brisbane Times