WorkSafe issues silica dust safety warning

WorkSafe NZ has issued a safety alert underscoring the grave health and safety dangers posed by high levels of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure for workers in the stone benchtop industry.

"Cases of silicosis began to be identified in people working with engineered stone benchtops in Queensland, Australia, in 2015," WorkSafe states in the alert.

"Since then, cases of chronic silicosis and probable or possible accelerated silicosis have been diagnosed in engineered stone workers in New Zealand."

To minimise exposure risks, WorkSafe advises businesses to undertake a comprehensive risk assessment and evaluate their control mechanisms before embarking on any tasks involving engineered stone.

For more information, go to the WorkSafe NZ website.