The National Work Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation Ministers have taken a significant step in the fight against silicosis by agreeing to draft legislation banning engineered stone products.
This decision aims to protect the health and safety of workers in Western Australia and prevent future cases of the debilitating disease.
Under the new regulations, engineered stone products will be banned in WA from 1 July.
However, a transitional arrangement will allow for the installation of these products for contracts signed before 1 January this year, provided they are installed by 31 December 2024.
Industrial Relations Minister Simone McGurk emphasised the government’s commitment to honouring existing contracts, stating: “The Cook Government is aware that there are businesses and consumers who have already signed contracts for engineered stone products, so these contracts will be honoured during the transitional period.”
The ban on engineered stone products is a crucial step in preventing harmful exposure to silica, the primary cause of silicosis.
Minister McGurk highlighted the urgency of the ban, noting that 50 of the 56 silicosis cases identified in WA since 2018 have occurred in engineered stone workers.
To complement the ban, new regulations for high-risk silica work will come into effect from 1 September, applying to general industries such as construction.
Mining workplaces, which already have suitable regulations in place, will not be affected.
Minister McGurk reassured the public that engineered stone benchtops already installed in homes do not pose a safety hazard, as the finished product does not release dust.
The ban will not apply to products that are already in their finished state, such as sinks.
In addition to the ban, the Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency has released phase three of the Asbestos National Strategic Plan.
This strategy aims to eliminate asbestos-related diseases in Australia through collaborative efforts across all levels of government and other stakeholders.
Minister McGurk concluded: “These changes will protect workers and give certainty to both industry and consumers as we phase out engineered stone.”
