Engineered stone ban will save lives

Unions have praised the ban of engineered stone as a life-saving decision, with attention now turning to those who are already suffering health effects from the industry.

The Construction, Forestry, Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) hailed the full ban on engineered stone as a life-saving decision in a statement this month, after Federal, state and territory ministers announced on 13 December that the deadly product will be banned from 1 July 2024.

The CFMEU’s Stop This Killer Stone campaign called for a total ban on the import, manufacture and use of engineered stone.

The CFMEU’s campaign also had the support of retailers like Bunnings and IKEA, major construction and property companies like John Holland, Lendlease, Mirvac and Cubs Property, as well as the vast majority of Australians.

CFMEU National Secretary Zach Smith said Australia would be a safer place when the ban is implemented.

“This is an incredibly special day for Australian workers, especially every CFMEU member who fought for this life-saving change,” he said.

“This announcement is a massive victory for people like Kyle Goodwin, the former stonemason who bravely fronted our union’s campaign after contracting incurable silicosis from simply from doing his job.

“Kyle selflessly dedicated a huge chunk of his remaining days to stopping other workers from being given the same unthinkable diagnosis.

“Like Bernie Banton and asbestos, Kyle Goodwin’s name deserves to be inextricably linked to the ban on engineered stone.

“The CFMEU is ready to help governments implement the July 1 ban on the import, manufacture and use of engineered stone.

“I want to congratulate Tony Burke and all his state counterparts who have backed the CFMEU’s campaign.

“From the start of this campaign, our union has said we would implement our own ban on July 1. The decision made today means we won’t have to.”

The Public Health Association of Australia said the decision was a wake-up call to help those affected by silicosis and other conditions related to engineered stone.

“The extreme levels of silica in these products has led to an enormous increase in tradespeople working with these products having their lungs irreparably damaged. This was unequivocally caused by using these products, in their normal work. That cannot and should not continue, so this ban shows the system can work. This is an important day to be celebrated,” PHAA CEO Adj Prof Terry Slevin said.

“But it is also a call to action to work harder to reduce the known burden of those who, in their daily work are exposed to silica, and other substances injurious to the health of those who are exposed to them.”