Australia’s ban on the importation of engineered stone — effective July 1, 2024 — positions the country as a global leader in protecting workers from silicosis, a deadly lung disease caused by inhaling respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust.
However, experts warn that significant health risks persist for workers in various industries, even with the ban in place.
Glyn Pierce-Jones, CEO of workplace safety technology company Trolex, stated: “Even with engineered stone out of the picture and strong workplace safety regulations — as strong as any in the world — Australian worksites still carry risks that can only be reduced if real-time dust monitoring is introduced.”
A recent U.S. study published in the Annals of Work Exposures and Health has raised concerns about the effectiveness of current safety measures.
The study found that even when following Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines, workers were exposed to RCS levels exceeding the permissible exposure limit of 50 μg m−3 during certain construction activities.
The study’s authors concluded that “managers and employees may assume that they will not be over-exposed to silica while employing the mandated dust controls,” but their results suggest otherwise.
This finding has implications for Australia, where similar exposure limits and safety measures are in place.
While the ban on engineered stone is a significant step forward, experts caution against complacency.
Natural stone, concrete, tiles, and bricks still pose RCS risks.
Emeritus Professor Malcolm Sim from Monash University noted that “poor dust control measures have been widely reported in the industry”.
As Australia implements this world-leading ban, the focus is now shifting to the need for real-time air monitoring to identify and mitigate ongoing RCS exposure risks across various industries.
This approach could help prevent a false sense of security and ensure continued protection for workers beyond the engineered stone sector.
