ACT’s strong position on silica a beacon to the nation

The ACT Government has positioned itself of the right side of history by unambiguously supporting a total ban on engineered stone products, according to the CFMEU. ACT Minister for Industrial Relations and Workplace Safety Mick Gentleman has announced the ACT will support a national prohibition on engineered stone at the next meeting of state and federal workplace Ministers scheduled for December. Mr Gentleman’s announcement follows a report from Safe Work Australia which found that there is no safe left of silica dust exposure. CFMEU ACT and National Secretary Zach Smith said the ACT Government was right to act decisively. “I’m proud to see the ACT once again taking a leadership position on important national reform,” Mr Smith said “We need engineered stone off the market yesterday because it kills workers. It’s that simple. “As Safe Work Australia has said, and as the ACT Government has rightly recognised, there is no such thing as a safe level of silica exposure. “If you cut engineered stone at work then there’s a good chance you’ll get silicosis, and that’s generally a death sentence. “The construction industry doesn’t need engineered stone. There are any number of benchtop alternatives. “I commend the ACT Government for seeing through the immoral lobbying of the engineered stone industry. “I urge the federal government to hold up their end and rid the nation of this killer stone.”