Builders, renovators, fabricators, and those working in the construction industry are being reminded of the upcoming national ban on the use, supply, manufacture, and installation of engineered stone which will come into effect in Queensland on 1 July 2024.
Ahead of 1 July 2024, workers and businesses in Queensland can continue to work with engineered stone in a controlled way. Queensland’s approved codes of practice establish legally enforceable safety standards for working with materials containing crystalline silica, including engineered stone.
All businesses are strongly encouraged not to enter any new contracts for the use of engineered stone that may not be fulfilled before the prohibition comes into effect on 1 July 2024.
Details of the ban will be finalised by Work Health and Safety Ministers in the coming weeks. This will include providing limited transitional arrangements for contracted work agreed to before the ban was announced in December 2023.
Businesses are encouraged to visit the national Safe Work Australia website for updates.
Why is engineered stone being banned?
Using a power tool or machinery to cut, grind, drill, trim, polish, sand or crush stone products generates dust containing respirable crystalline silica (RCS). Breathing in RCS can lead to serious health conditions including the lung disease, silicosis.
The latest scientific evidence identified by Safe Work Australia is that RCS particles generated from processing engineered stone are smaller and more toxic. This is resulting in more serious and rapidly progressive health risks for workers who process engineered stone.
What engineered stone products will be banned?
The ban will cover the use of all engineered stone products that:
- contain 1 per cent or more crystalline silica;
- are created by combining natural stone materials with other chemical constituents (such as water, resins, or pigments);
- and undergo a process to become hardened.
Many other man-made products that contain crystalline silica will be exempt from the ban. These include concrete and cement products; bricks, pavers, and other similar blocks; ceramic and porcelain products; wall, floor and roof tiles; grout, mortar, and render; and plasterboard.
Work Health and Safety Ministers agreed to introduce nationally consistent exemptions for additional products where evidence proves the products can be used safely.
Previously installed engineered stone will not need to be removed. Repairs, minor modification, removal, and disposal of previously installed engineered stone products, will not be banned. However, effective dust controls will be required for any work with installed engineered stone.
