Australia’s construction unions are launching a campaign to ‘ban’ engineered stone products over the deadly threat of silica dust. Experts say thousands of workers are at risk and claim the country is on the cusp of an epidemic that will dwarf asbestos.
As the home renovation industry continues to grow, so too does the risk of silicosis, a deadly lung disease caused by exposure to silica dust. This has led to growing calls for a ban on engineered stone, a product commonly used in home renovations.
Engineered stone is composed of crushed stone bound together by an adhesive to create a solid surface. It is often used as benchtops and splashbacks in kitchens and bathrooms. However, when cutting, grinding and abrasive polishing this material, it produces silica dust which can cause serious health issues such as silicosis if inhaled.
In response to this threat, the Construction Forestry Maritime Mining Energy Union (CFMEU) has stepped in and said it will ban the use of engineered stone if the federal government fails to do so. The union has also launched a campaign calling for urgent regulatory action to ban engineered stone amidst rising cases of silicosis.
The changes include the introduction of a new prohibition on uncontrolled cutting, grinding and abrasive polishing of engineered stone that produces silica dust. Co-author of a 2021 Curtin University study into the issue, epidemiologist Lin Fritschi said banning engineered stone would prevent hundreds of lung diseases each year.
The CFMEU has said it will lobby for a ban on importation, manufacture and use of engineered stone products from 1 July 2024.
