Tuesday 27th April 2021

Rates of silicosis ‘spiralling’ with the popularity of artificial stone benchtops. 

Calls to ban the use of artificial stone are being considered as the product’s popularity has increased over the last two decades. Established two years ago to combat the rising levels of silicosis among workers, Australia’s National Dust Diseases Taskforce agreed that a ban is an option if other measures to limit the exposure rates fail.

The reason for artificial stone benchtops popularity in the construction and home renovation industry is due to their affordability over marble or granite, resulting in a significant rise in rates of silicosis among exposed workers.

In a submission to the taskforce law firm, Maurice Blackburn said, ‘We believe that large numbers of consumers would be horrified with the thought that an essentially decorative product in their kitchen could have led to serious illness and death.’

The Cancer Council, Lung Foundation Australia, the Australian Institute of Health and Safety, the Australian and New Zealand Society of Occupational Medicine, Lung Foundation Australia and the Thoracic Society of Australia & New Zealand have all written to the task force in support of a ban.

Read the original article on the Trinitas Group website.