The landmark engineered stone ban comes into effect today and will help protect Australian workers from silicosis, a lung disease caused by exposure to respirable crystalline silica.
Under the ban, the manufacture, supply, processing and installation of engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs is prohibited in every state and territory in Australia.
The ban does not apply to the controlled processing of previously installed engineered stone benchtops, panels or slabs for the purposes of removal, repair or minor modification, or the controlled processing of installed or uninstalled engineered stone benchtops, panels or slabs for the purposes of disposal.
The engineered stone ban recognises that working with engineered stone poses an unacceptable health risk to workers. It will help ensure that workers, their families and the broader Australian community don’t bear the harmful and significant costs of exposure to respirable crystalline silica generated when engineered stone is processed with power tools.
Each jurisdiction has implemented the engineered stone ban in their respective work health and safety (WHS) laws based on amendments to the model WHS Regulations published by Safe Work Australia.
A summary of how the ban will be implemented in each state and territory is available on Safe Work Australia’s engineered stone ban website.
Quotes attributable to Marie Boland, Safe Work Australia CEO:
“Today represents the realisation of Safe Work Australia’s recommendation and the unanimous decision by WHS ministers from the Commonwealth, states and territories in December 2023 to ban the use of engineered stone to protect the health and safety of workers.
“It’s an historic moment for work health and safety in Australia which will save lives.
“The ban will protect workers from exposure to respirable crystalline silica that can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause irreversible lung damage.
“We recognise the collaborative efforts of WHS ministers, our Safe Work Australia Members including social partners representing Australian employers and workers who have worked together to ban engineered stone and create safer and healthier workplaces.
“Safe Work Australia has developed a range of guidance and supporting resources to assist persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) understand their work health and safety obligations relating to the engineered stone ban.
“Safe Work Australia is committed to creating safe and healthy workplaces for all Australians.
“Through our development of national policy and model WHS legislation, we work to reduce the incidence of work-related death, injury and illness, and exposure to hazards and risks, such as respirable crystalline silica, in Australian workplaces.”
For more information and resources, see Safe Work Australia’s engineered stone ban website.