[Jan Fisher]

Australia is the first country in the world to ban engineered stone, with the ban coming into effect on 1 July.

It’s a result of many workers being diagnosed with silicosis, a lung disease from inhaling tiny bits of silica.

Complications from silicosis can include tuberculosis, lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, autoimmune disorders and kidney disease

It’s estimated more than 100,000 workers are in danger of being diagnosed and the crisis is being compared to the asbestos disaster.

I first heard about engineered stone being bad for workers about 10 years ago.

It was after my kitchen renovation and there is no way I would have used it, if I had known.

So why is a ban only now being put into place? Seems like the government dragging its feet. Say what you will about unions, but the CFMEU representing building workers was first on the campaign to have it banned.

Frankly, I hope many people sue the government for their tardy response to an issue that was clearly a problem years ago. Too many good people are going to suffer and die because no one wanted to make a decision. Not good enough.

Do you think the government should have acted sooner.

[Tood]

Ever heard of protective clothing, breathing equipment?? Are people that stupid?

[Couldabeen]

A fact is that the “engineered stone” can be made, profiled and handled in a safe manner and has shown to be a very suitable material for such things as kitchen and bathroom benches.
It can be cut with sub-millimetre precision and desirable surface textures using water jets.
When it was machined with mechanical milling the dangerous dusts were generated and as it was so easy to prepare, many benchtops were made in an ordinary workshop with no dust control and no respiratory protection for the workers.
If you already have such bench tops, you are in no danger yourself as they are hard, resilient and stable.

[Author]

Posts