Australia has decided to ban engineered stone, a popular material used in bathroom and kitchen countertops, to prevent exposure to fine silica dust
Australian state and federal officials have confirmed that the use of engineered stone will be banned in the majority of territories from 1 July 2024. Importing engineered stone will also be prohibited.
The material is popular in kitchens and bathrooms for stone countertops, but significant concerns have been raised over the risk of exposure to fine silica dust for those working with the material.
What risk does silica dust pose?
Also known as respirable crystalline silica (RCS), silica dust causes fibrosis (scarring) in lung tissue, reducing function. Symptoms include severe shortness of breath and the condition has been linked to lung cancer. The damage caused by silicosis is irreversible.
It is estimated that over half a million Australians are exposed to fine silica dust through stonemasonry and construction, with figures suggesting 103,000 of these workers likely to be diagnosed with silicosis. Over ten thousand people are expected to be diagnosed with lung cancer as a result of their exposure to silica dust.
In the UK, the HSE considers silica dust “the biggest risk to construction workers after asbestos” and an APPG report estimated that 600,000 workers in the UK are exposed to the substance each year.
Australia is the first country in the world to ban engineered stone
In October of this year, the Australian workplace safety watchdog Safe Work Australia strongly advocated for an outright ban on engineered stone.
Determining that there was “no evidence” that a reduced level of silica would reduce the health risks, the watchdog even went as far as to say that “in fact, permitting work with lower-silica engineered stone may encourage even greater non-compliance with WHS laws as there may be an incorrect perception that these products are ‘safer’.”
The move was welcomed by political leaders across Australia, as well as unions such as the Construction Forestry Maritime Mining Energy Union, who have campaigned extensively against the use of engineered stone.
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