Australia’s New Engineered Stone Ban to Begin in July

Australia has made history by announcing its plan to be the first country to ban the use, supply, and manufacture of all engineered stone, effective on July 1, 2024. The decision, reached during a meeting of the workplace relations and work health and safety ministers on Dec. 13, comes in response to the alarming rates of silicosis and silica-related diseases among workers in the engineered stone fabrication and installation industries.

The ban, based on the recommendation of Safe Work Australia, aims to address the health risks posed by the dust generated during the processing of engineered stone, which has been linked to more rapid and severe illness. The Australian government stated that there is no scientific evidence for a safe threshold of crystalline silica content in engineered stone, leading to the decision to prohibit its use altogether.

Engineered stone, made primarily from quartz rock, contains a high percentage of crystalline silica, far exceeding the levels typically found in natural stone products like granite or marble. This material is commonly used in kitchen and bathroom countertops, and its production costs are lower than those of natural stone.

However, the ban on engineered stone in Australia will have certain exceptions, including the removal, repair, minor modification, and disposal of existing engineered stone products. The work health and safety ministers also discussed possible exclusions for other products like concrete, cement, bricks, pavers, porcelain, and ceramic wall and floor tiles. Regulators and Safe Work Australia will develop a process for exempting additional products, based on compelling evidence demonstrating their safe use.

In the United States, similar concerns about silica exposures from engineered stone fabrication and installation have led to enforcement initiatives by federal and state occupational health and safety agencies. Federal OSHA has launched an initiative targeting silica exposures from engineered stone, while in California, Cal/OSHA recently approved an emergency temporary standard to protect stone workers from silicosis.

The decision by Australia to ban engineered stone represents a significant step in addressing the occupational health and safety risks associated with this material, and it is likely to have implications for similar industries worldwide.