The prohibition on engineered stone, a well-liked materials for bogs and kitchens worktops, has been agreed by ministers. Secure Work Australia has been tasked with its implementation on a state by state foundation.
The ban follows a marketing campaign by the Development, Forestry & Maritime Staff Union and others.
Secure Work Australia beneficial the prohibition underneath the mannequin Work Well being & Security (WHS) legal guidelines to guard hundreds of staff from respirable crystalline silica (silica mud), which is generated in excessive ranges when staff reduce, form or polish engineered stone.
Publicity to silica mud from engineered stone has led to a fast enhance within the variety of staff growing the intense lung illness silicosis in Australia.
Secure Work Australia will now draft amendments to the mannequin WHS laws. The amendments will then be carried out in every Australian state’s WHS legal guidelines. Secure Work Australia may even develop a nationwide framework to make sure anybody working with engineered stone merchandise put in previous to the prohibition is doing so safely.
Till the prohibition comes into impact, staff and companies can proceed to work with engineered stone in a managed method.
Secure Work Australia chief government Marie Boland mentioned: “Right this moment, WHS ministers from the Commonwealth, states and territories agreed to Secure Work Australia’s suggestion to ban the usage of all engineered stone to guard the well being and security of staff.
“Office publicity to respirable crystalline silica has led to an unacceptable enhance within the variety of circumstances of silicosis and different silica-related ailments. Skilled evaluation exhibits that silica mud from engineered stone poses distinctive hazards and there’s no proof that low silica engineered stone is secure to work with.
“This prohibition will make Australian workplaces safer and more healthy.
“The overwhelming majority of silicosis circumstances recognized in recent times are in engineered stone staff. Many of those circumstances are in youthful staff who’re experiencing quicker illness development and better mortality.
“The associated fee to business, whereas actual and related, can not outweigh the numerous prices to staff, their households and the broader Australian group that end result from publicity to respirable crystalline silica from engineered stone.
“Continued work with engineered stone poses an unacceptable threat to staff, which is why we beneficial a prohibition on the usage of all engineered stone.
“Now {that a} prohibition has been agreed by WHS ministers, Secure Work Australia will progress amendments to the mannequin WHS Laws and develop steering to help PCBUs and staff perceive and put together for the change.”
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