Apr 2nd 2024 |
WorkSafe issues silica dust safety warning
WorkSafe Issues Silica Dust Safety Warning for Stone Benchtop Industry
WorkSafe NZ has issued a silica dust safety warning, underscoring grave health dangers posed by high levels of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure for workers in the stone benchtop industry. The alert highlights serious risk to construction and manufacturing employees who handle engineered stone daily.
Rising Silicosis Cases Prompt Safety Alert
"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."
Silica dust can be deadly when inhaled over sustained periods, making early hazard control essential for any business working with engineered stone products.
What Businesses Must Do to Reduce Risk
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. Robust risk management practices, paired with practical control measures, remain critical for protecting worker health across construction sites and fabrication workshops alike.
Effective safety practices should include:
- Conducting thorough risk assessments before any cutting, grinding, or polishing work begins
- Implementing dust suppression and extraction systems to limit hazardous silica dust exposure
- Providing appropriate respiratory protective equipment to workers handling engineered stone
- Reviewing and updating Silica Dust SWMS documentation regularly
Businesses in the construction sector should also consider how broader crystalline silica dust safety management strategies apply to their specific worksites, given the varied nature of stone fabrication tasks.
Why This Safety Warning Matters
Silica dust can be toxic, and repeated exposure without adequate hazard control significantly raises the risk of irreversible lung disease. Health outcomes for affected workers can be severe, reinforcing why WorkSafe continues pushing safety awareness across the construction industry.
Employers carry a duty of care to identify hazardous conditions early, since first cut into engineered stone without proper controls can generate dangerous dust concentrations. Protecting worker health remains a shared responsibility between employers and employees alike.
For more information, go to the WorkSafe NZ website.
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