Why Should You Steer Clear of Engineered Stone

14/12/2023

Engineered stone benchtops are a popular choice among many homeowners, serving as a more affordable alternative than natural marble or granite. Engineered stone benchtops and other goods are considered scratch-resistant and less porous making them more durable in the long-run. They also include a wide range of colours and finishes to select from, making them more customisable to individual tastes.

However, what you might not know is that they are toxic and a major hazard to the workers constructing the engineered stone products.

Engineered Stone contains crystalline silica found in some stones, rock, sand gravel etc., and is highly toxic when inhaled as silica dust.

Engineered Stone contains crystalline silica found in some stones, rock, sand gravel etc., and is highly toxic when inhaled as silica dust.

Why Producing Engineered Stone Goods is Dangerous

Engineered Stone contains crystalline silica found in some stones, rock, sand gravel etc., and is highly toxic when inhaled as silica dust. According to the Cancer Council, silica dust can lead to developing lung cancer, silicosis (irreversible scarring and stiffening of lung tissue), and other health problems, such as kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

During the production process, tradespeople are at the most risk of inhaling silica dust and suffering the harmful effects. Despite safety measures to reduce risks as much as possible, Safe Work Australia’s report deemed no amount of “cancer-causing silica” is safe for workers and needs to be eliminated from production processes entirely. This is because silica dust is 100 times smaller than a grain of sand, which means you can inhale it without noticing.

Which Workers Are Impacted the Most?

Tradespeople tasked with breaking, cutting, sandblasting, grinding etc., materials containing silica dust are typically some of the most affected. Other work involving road construction, demolition, and stonemasonry are also examples of production that leads to silica dust directly impacting tradespeople on location.

Silica – The Asbestos of the 2020s

Due to silica’s toxic nature and widespread usage, The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has described it as Australia’s “emerging occupational health epidemic” similar to how asbestos was once a major component of many materials.

While it’s highly dangerous for tradespeople to work on engineered stone, once it’s fabricated and installed in homes, it no longer poses a risk to homeowners unless they decide to perform DIY renovations. In such cases, silica dust would be released and potentially harm all those involved.

Prohibition on the Use of Engineered Stone – Australia

The Decision RIS (Regulation Impact Statement) developed by Safe Work Australia has issued a recommendation to prohibit the use of engineered stone due to serious health concerns associated with exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS). This decision is rooted in an extensive regulatory impact statement, which highlights the significant health risks posed to engineered stone workers.

How Chemwatch can help?

If you want to know more about the environmental and health effects of chemicals, or how to minimise risk while working with chemicals, we’re here to help. We have tools to help you with mandatory reporting, as well as generating SDS and Risk Assessments. We also have a library of webinars covering global safety regulations, software training, accredited courses, and labelling requirements. For more information, contact us today!

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