On 13 December 2023, Australian work health and safety ministers agreed to Safe Work Australia’s recommendation to ban the use of all engineered stone under the model work health and safety laws from 1 July 2024.
10 May 2024: News: Transitioning to a prohibition on engineered stone in Tasmania
The Tasmanian Government is committed to implementing the prohibition on the manufacture, supply and processing of engineered stone benchtops, panels or slabs in Tasmania from 1 July 2024.
The safety of workers is paramount, and this prohibition will protect workers from future exposures to the dangerous dust that is produced through work with engineered stone.
The ban will affect small businesses and homeowners in Tasmania.
To ease this impact, Tasmania will be adopting the nationally agreed six-month transition period for contracts entered into before 31 December 2023.
During the transition period, work involving the manufacture, supply or processing of the engineered stone products will not be prohibited as long as the contract for the work was entered into before 31 December 2023 and the work is finished by 31 December 2024.
After 31 December 2024, the prohibition will take full force and no work can be undertaken on the manufacture, supply or processing of engineered stone benchtops, panels or slabs.
The Tasmanian Government continues to consult with key stakeholders on the ban and its impact on industry.
For clarity, engineered stone that contains less than 1% crystalline silica is not included in the ban, nor are:
- concrete and cement products
- bricks, pavers and other similar blocks
- ceramic wall and floor tiles
- grout, mortar and render
- plasterboard
- porcelain products
- sintered stone
- roof tiles.
More information about the ban
Safe Work Australia has detailed information about the engineered stone ban. It answers questions for businesses that work with engineered stone, about previously installed engineered stone, and about imported engineered stone products.
Read more about the ban at Safe Work Australia.
Read more information about the ban at Australian Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
Dry cutting engineered stone breaks current work health and safety laws.
Engineered stone products containing high amounts of silica are often used to make bathroom and kitchen benchtops. Engineered stones comprise ground-up natural stone bound together with artificial adhesives and other materials.
Silica dust exposure is life-threatening.
Exposure is preventable.
You can be safe by following the right safety measures.
This image shows a worker cutting engineered stone with a power tool.
Construction workers face a high risk of breathing in silica dust because they cut, grind and polish engineered stone with power tools. Engineered stone can contain more than 95% crystalline silica, which is much higher than what's typically found in natural stones.
The on-site installation of engineered stone is ranked as high-risk construction work if activities like cutting, grinding, trimming, drilling, sanding or polishing make silica dust and contaminate the work area.
Working with engineered stone poses a significant risk to a worker’s health. Make sure you use the right safety equipment including respiratory protective equipment.
PCBUs should prepare a safe work method statement (SWMS) before carrying out on-site installations that involve processing, modifying or repairing engineered stone and may generate silica dust.
Resources
Engineered stone ban: Safe Work Australia
Silicosis crisis: Workers dying making kitchen benchtops: ABC 7:30 program This video emphasises the risks of working with engineered stone. Caution: This video may contain confronting content, and could be unsuitable for certain audiences. Viewer discretion is recommended.