Safe Work Australia has called on governments to ban the use of all engineered stone products “irrespective of crystalline silica content” on advice to help protect workers from dust-related diseases such as silicosis.  

The agency says its decision was made following analysis of the material, which found a “disproportionate number” of engineered stone workers were being diagnosed with silicosis on a “more rapid and severe” basis. 

Silicosis case numbers have markedly increased since it was first associated with engineered stone in 2015, with manufacturing professions, such as stonemasons, most likely to be impacted.   

Safe Work Australia found that 488 workers’ compensation claims have been accepted in the past decade, with about 11% of stonemasons and other engineered stone workers receiving a probable or confirmed diagnosis due to workplace exposures to respirable crystalline silica (RCS).   

“Silicosis in engineered stone workers is characterised by a shorter time to disease onset and faster disease progression,” Safe Work Australia said.  

“This is due to combination of factors, including the unique hazards posed by engineered stone dust (RCS), as well as other hazardous substances, a lack of compliance with, and enforcement of, the WHS laws, and the nature of the engineered stone industry and workforce. 

“Given these factors, government intervention to prohibit the use of engineered stone should be considered.”  

The report recommends that regulators either prohibit the use of all engineered stone products or prohibit products that contain over 40% or more crystalline silica and implement further licensing schemes for products with lower crystalline silica concentration.  

CFMEU National Secretary Zach Smith, who has pushed for a total ban, says the report should mark the “final nail in the coffin of the killer stone”.  

“There is simply no option for federal and state ministers now aside from banning this deadly product,” Mr Smith said.  

“Anyone who opposes a complete ban on engineered stone will have blood on their hands.  

“This is a watershed day in our union’s campaign to save workers’ lives, but make no mistake; we won’t rest until governments ban engineered stone.”  

State and Federal work health and safety ministers agreed last Friday that they will meet before the end of the year to settle a position on the matter.