Government supports the prohibition on engineered stone imports

Government Supports the Prohibition on Engineered Stone Imports

The NSW government has expressed its support for the import prohibition on engineered stone products, effective from 1 January 2025, in order to safeguard the health and safety of workers into the future.

This national ban means engineered stone benchtops, panels, slabs will become prohibited imports where silica content exceeds one percent. The measure builds on existing state efforts, including the NSW Government's enforcement action against engineered stone breaches.

The State Government says the national prohibition on imports encompasses engineered stone countertops, slabs, panels containing crystalline silica levels exceeding one percent, a hazardous substance long linked to serious lung disease among tradespeople.

This comes after the first-ever domestic restriction on the use, distribution, manufacturing of engineered stone products across Australia, which commenced on July 1 2024. Fake stone will be banned nationwide under this framework, reinforcing efforts already underway through SafeWork SA's compliance blitz targeting the ban on engineered stone.

Why the Import Ban Matters for Workplace Safety

SafeWork NSW Deputy Secretary Trent Curtin stressed the vital importance of prioritising workplace safety for tradespeople who cut, grind, or polish these materials.

"No one deserves to have their health compromised due to their working environment," Curtin said.

"In NSW, as the SafeWork NSW campaign goes, it's the Safe Way or No Way."

Exposure to hazardous dust generated during fabrication remains a leading cause of silicosis, making this importation ban a critical step toward protecting worker health across the construction and manufacturing sectors.

What This Means for Businesses Handling Stone Products

Employers still managing legacy installations should review their obligations under current work health and safety codes, including guidance outlined in the Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice.

Organisations previously engaged in fabricating, cutting, or cladding with these materials can reference archived safe work method statements, such as those covering stone fabrication tasks and stone cladding activities, when transitioning away from restricted products.

Businesses that once relied on rock saw cutting techniques for quarry work may also find it useful to consult archived procedures for stone cutting using rock saws as they adjust operations under the updated ban.

Read more here.