Australia makes world-first determination to ban engineered stone following surge in silicosis instances

Australia has grow to be the primary nation to announce a ban on engineered stone following a surge in employees creating the lung illness silicosis.

Commonwealth, state, and territory office ministers unanimously agreed to implement a nationwide ban on the product at a long-awaited assembly on Wednesday afternoon.

The ban will begin on July 1, 2024 in most states and territories.

The world-first determination comes after a whole lot of employees developed silicosis from engaged on engineered stone, a preferred materials largely used for kitchen benches and toilet vanities.

Ministers additionally agreed to a “transition interval” for engineered stone contracts entered into earlier than the ban was introduced, with preparations to be finalised at a later assembly.

The federal authorities can even impose a ban on imported engineered stone to offer an “extra layer of enforcement and deterrence on the border”, nevertheless the date has not been finalised but.

Commerce unions, well being organisations and private harm legislation companies have all welcomed the ban, saying it’ll save lives.

“Engineered stone is a style product that’s killing the employees who make it,” Australian Council of Commerce Unions assistant secretary Liam O’Brien stated.

“With alternate options available, why are we risking the lives of tradies for a modern end in our kitchens?”

Caesarstone, a big engineered stone producer, stated it was “deeply disillusioned” by the choice.

A spokesperson stated the reasoning behind the choice was “flawed” and that singling out engineered stone wouldn’t eradicate the chance of silicosis within the office.

“Most significantly, it [the decision] fails to handle the true explanation for rising silicosis charges – poor compliance with and enforcement of security requirements,” they stated.

In style materials sparked an increase in lung illness

Engineered stone, a sturdy and inexpensive different to pure supplies like granite and marble, exploded in recognition in Australia all through the 2000s.

Nonetheless docs started sounding the alarm after noticing a surge in stonemasons creating silicosis, a long-term and generally deadly lung illness attributable to inhaling unsafe ranges of silica mud.

A kind of docs, respiratory doctor Ryan Hoy, stated the illness was largely putting down younger males within the prime of their work lives.

“A few of these individuals with silicosis, they’re extraordinarily sick … we’ve a situation which brought about them to grow to be so in need of breath it is arduous to just do regular each day actions,” he stated.

For the reason that first Australian silicosis case linked to engaged on engineered stone was reported in 2015, a whole lot extra instances have emerged.

Unions joined docs to marketing campaign for a ban, arguing it may grow to be the “asbestos of the 2020s” as a result of dangers it posed to employees’ well being.

An ‘necessary win for 1000’s of employees’

Earlier this 12 months office ministers tasked Secure Work Australia, a authorities WHS company, with investigating how a ban may work and whether or not low-silica engineered stone may stay in the marketplace safely.

The report discovered there was no secure stage of silica, concluding: “Using all engineered stone needs to be prohibited.”

The CMFEU’s Zach Smith stated the nationwide ban would “cease the lethal scourge of silicosis in its tracks”.

“This is a vital win for the 1000’s of employees which have been pressured to make use of this product, which has brought about them to contract life-ending silicosis,” he stated.

“Let’s be clear about this — the choice that is been made by the assorted ranges of presidency as we speak will save lives.”

‘From the breadwinner to nothing’

Secure Work discovered that whereas silicosis instances may emerge in a number of industries, the numbers have been “disproportionate” amongst engineered stone employees.

Engineered stone employees additionally suffered a sooner illness development and have been extra prone to die from it, the report stated.

The vast majority of engineered stone employees identified with silicosis have been below 35.

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Over 5 years of reporting, the ABC has spoken to greater than a dozen stonemasons, many of their 20s or 30s with younger households, whose lives have been shattered by the illness.

They’ve advised the ABC about its devastating penalties: struggling to breathe correctly, needing lung transplants and going through an early loss of life.

Former stonemason Ben Harrison, 34, was identified with silicosis 4 years in the past and advised the ABC he supported a ban.

“I’ve gone from being the breadwinner of the home … to being nothing,” he stated.

Extra particulars to be labored out

Office ministers are because of maintain one other assembly in March 2024 to work out particulars for the transition interval for engineered stone contracts which have already been carried out.

Caesarstone stated a transition interval of six months wouldn’t be sufficient time to keep away from “important disruption” to the development and homebuilding business.

“An extended interval [is] wanted to make sure business can meet the anticipated demand for substitute merchandise and that fabricators with the mandatory monetary sources can retool and retrain workers to work on different merchandise,” a spokesperson stated.

The Housing Business Affiliation stated the ban had brought about uncertainty and concern to the small companies that provide engineered stone, including that new equipment and different merchandise could be wanted.

“It’s crucial following as we speak’s determination that governments now put together an in depth business transition plan that addresses these and different key issues,” affiliation managing director Jocelyn Martin stated.

Dr Hoy stated broader change was wanted to ensure the same disaster didn’t occur once more.

“We won’t be ready till individuals develop illness they usually die from situations associated to work earlier than we begin performing,” he stated.

“We actually want to vary the methods to establish issues at work, and act earlier than individuals grow to be sick.”