Many engineered-stone bench tops might be taken off the market as governments think about whether or not supplies with harmful ranges of silica needs to be banned.
After a gathering of federal and state officers this week, Secure Work Australia will assessment silica merchandise, and whether or not a ban is required.
The response comes amid rising public outcry over the health risks facing workers exposed to silica dustwhich may trigger the lethal lung situation silicosis.
The Australian Council of Commerce Unions (ACTU) has described silicosis as a “silent epidemic”.
Figures revealed by Curtin College and the ACTU final 12 months estimated 585,050 Australian employees are uncovered to silica mud, with 47 per cent subjected to “excessive ranges” of the substance.
Researchers predicted 83,090 instances of silicosis will come up sooner or later because of occupational publicity to silica mud, alongside greater than 7500 extra instances of lung most cancers nationwide.
A less expensive product
Engineered stone is a composite materials made from crushed stone which is sure by an adhesive.
Engineered stone has develop into common as an inexpensive different to pure stone, sometimes costing between $400 to $600 per sq. meter, in accordance with Hipages.
That is a lot lower than marble and granite, which may value as much as $3500 per sq. meter.
It’s a extreme well being danger for employees chopping the stone as a result of it accommodates silica mud, which causes lethal and incurable silicosis, a rising physique of analysis has discovered.
The lung illness is attributable to inhaling particles of silica mud produced when engineered stone is reduce or filed; well being specialists have beforehand likened the stone substance to asbestos.
The general public outcry after a 9 Newspapers and 60 Minutes function in February on the topic has introduced motion from governments, which on Tuesday mentioned home use of engineered-stone bench tops that comprise excessive quantities of silica might be outlawed.
Secure Work explores ban
Underneath an settlement between federal, state and territory ministers, Secure Work Australia will now discover whether or not a ban on sure stone bench tops is required, and what that may seem like.
There was hypothesis governments would instantly press forward with outlawing merchandise with excessive ranges of silica, however talking to reporters on Tuesday, Minister for Employment Tony Burke mentioned a assessment was obligatory to find out the place regulators ought to draw the road.
“Not all engineered stone is at 97 [or] 98 p.c silica. There are some kinds which can be at a lot decrease ranges and percentages and, due to this fact, current a a lot decrease danger,” Mr Burke mentioned.
“What we have requested Secure Work Australia to do is scope out if there have been to be a prohibition, the place that line can be drawn, after which to additionally scope out how one can have a nationally constant licensing system for no matter stays as being seen as protected.”
Mr Burke mentioned that after Secure Work Australia completes its assessment there will likely be one other assembly of ministers to find out whether or not a ban is required, and in that case beneath what focus degree.
Renee Carey, a senior analysis fellow at Curtin College, mentioned that if governments do resolve to ban just some forms of engineered bench tops then these merchandise which are not banned should be tightly regulated.
“The most secure method (and arguably the one which might be easiest to implement) is to ban all engineered stone, no matter its composition,” Dr Carey informed The New Every day.
“If we do comply with the method steered, the dedication of what degree of silica is ‘protected’ must be based mostly on well being dangers and think about the publicity ranges to silica that are more likely to result in well being results in employees.”
