Engineered stone, a popular choice for countertops, has proven
popular due to its aesthetic appeal, cost, durability, and
versatility. However, in recent years there has been focus on the
serious health concerns linked to engineered stone including
long-term respiratory illness and premature death. In this article,
we will delve into what engineered stone is, the serious
respiratory health problems it poses for workers, and the call for
the ban of its use in Australia.
Table of Contents
What is engineered stone?
Engineered stone, often known by but not limited to brand names
like Caesarstone, Silestone, or Quantum Quartz, is a popular
material used for kitchen and bathroom countertops, as well as
other interior surfaces. It is made by combining crushed natural
stone, such as quartz, with polymer resins and pigments to create a
durable and attractive surface. The result is a versatile material
with a wide range of colours and patterns that mimics the look of
natural stone at a much cheaper cost, hence the popularity.
What exactly are the health risks linked to engineered
stone?
While engineered stone offers many advantages, there is a
notable downside associated with its production and fabrication.
Engineered stone contains a high concentration of crystalline
silica, a naturally occurring mineral found in quartz, which poses
a significant respiratory health risk when airborne. The fine dust
produced during the cutting, grinding, and polishing of engineered
stone surfaces can be inhaled by workers and lead to severe health
problems, including:
i. Silicosis –
prolonged exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust can lead
to silicosis, an irreversible and often debilitating lung disease.
Silicosis causes scarring of lung tissue, leading to symptoms such
as coughing, breathlessness, and increased susceptibility to
respiratory infections. There is no cure for silicosis and if
developed, life expectancy is diminished.
ii. Lung cancer – inhaling
crystalline silica over an extended period is associated with an
increased risk of lung cancer. Most cases are not curable and
significantly reduce a worker's life expectancy.
iii. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
(COPD) – silica exposure can
contribute to the development of COPD, a progressive lung condition
which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis and is
characterised by breathing difficulties and shortness of
breath.
Silica dust exposure also increases the risk of developing
chronic kidney disease, autoimmune disorders (such as scleroderma
and systemic lupus erythematosus) and other adverse health effects,
including an increased risk of activating latent tuberculosis, eye
irritation and eye damage. The risk posed by engineered stone is
being touted as the new asbestos in terms of the
health ramifications for workers in Australia.
Legislative amendments to the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) and
SafeWork Australia's call for a national ban
In response to growing concern over the health risks associated
with engineered stone, the NSW government has previously introduced
amendments to the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW)
which were designed to safeguard the health and well-being of
workers in the engineered stone industry.
These measures included reduced exposure limits, mandatory
health assessments, improved monitoring, and compliance as well as
education and training, and dust control measures which required
employers to implement effective dust control measures, including
proper ventilation, wet cutting methods, and the use of suitable
personal protective equipment.
To date however, persons conducting a business in this industry,
workers and regulators have failed to ensure the health and safety
of all workers working with engineered stone. In particular, the
lack of effective monitoring and compliance, despite some smaller
and sporadic wins, remains a big issue within the industry.
SafeWork Australia (SWA) has called for a
complete ban of the use of engineered stone in Australia. It has
undertaken significant work since 2018 to improve WHS arrangements
to prevent dust diseases including silicosis. This has included
amendments to NSW WHS legislation, however in February 2023 WHS
ministers agreed to SWA's recommendations to address workplace
exposure to respirable crystalline silica through national
awareness and change in behaviour initiatives, and further
regulation for all materials across all industries (which includes
engineered stone).
SWA undertook extensive analysis and consultation on the impacts
of a prohibition on the use of engineered stone and provided its
decision in a report to WHS Ministers on 16 August 2023 for
their consideration. The expert analysis undertaken shows that dust
from engineered stone poses unique hazards, and there is no
evidence that lower silica engineered stone is safer to work with,
meaning there is no safe level of exposure for workers. SWA has
recommended a prohibition on the use of all engineered stone,
irrespective of the crystalline silica content. There is also a
recommendation of the introduction of a licensing scheme to ensure
appropriate controls are in place to protect worker health when
engineered stone already in place needs to be removed, repaired, or
modified.
Silicosis and dust diseases pose an unacceptable health risk to
workers in Australia, and it is important to note that there are
significant financial and non-financial costs associated with being
diagnosed with silicosis or a dust disease, including significant
physical and emotional harm, the reduced ability to work, reduced
quality of life and ultimately premature death of workers. There
are also significant costs to the public health system and in turn
our economy.
SWA recommends urgent government intervention, due to the
disproportionate number of silicosis cases in engineered stone
workers, the younger age of diagnosis of silicosis and dust related
diseases in engineered stone workers, and the impacts on workers,
their families, and the wider community. The decision to prohibit
the use of some or all engineered stone is a matter for WHS
ministers who will meet later this year. It is clear that while
engineered stone revolutionised interior design, the long-term
health risks for workers involved in its fabrication and
installation outweighs the gain.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.
