NSW on stone spree
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The NSW Government has issued over 100 improvement notices to enforce its ban on engineered stone.
The state says that its $2.5 million investment earlier this year will see specialised Silica Inspectors issue prohibition notices to stop work that generates high levels of silica dust. Businesses can face penalties up to $40,000 for noncompliance.
In the first two months since inspections began, the new SafeWork NSW’s Silica Compliance Team has conducted 118 inspections, issuing 125 improvement notices and seven prohibition notices in workplaces.
This includes a blitz in Southwest Sydney late October where the team conducted over 36 inspections: issuing 47 improvement notices and five prohibition notices.
Inspectors focused on dry cutting, appropriate use of respiratory protective equipment, and health monitoring.
Silicosis is caused by items with a high silica content such as engineered stone. The stone has been linked to the incurable illness since 2015. Engineered stone is a common item used in kitchen benchtops.
The national ban on engineered stone which commenced on July 1, 2024, prohibits the manufacture, supply, processing and installation of engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs containing at least 1 per cent silica.
Uncontrolled cutting, drilling, polishing and grinding of CSS materials such as granite, tiles, bricks and sandstone can also lead to serious illnesses such as silicosis, lung disease, lung cancer, and kidney disease.
The state says its safeguards complement the engineered stone ban and the national engineered stone importation ban.
In addition, the icare Lung clinic has been providing specialised lung health assessments to current and retired workers who are at risk of developing a workplace dust disease, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis or silicosis.
In 2025, the Lung Bus is set to travel right around the state, including stops in Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Gosford, Dubbo, Bathurst, Broken Hill, Griffith, Wagga Wagga, Tamworth and Newcastle.
“No one deserves to have their health compromised due to their working environment,” says SafeWork NSW’s Trent Curtin.
“I’m pleased to see our Inspectors out and about educating and enforcing the new silica regulations. They will continue their zero-tolerance approach to protecting workers’ lives from being endangered through exposure to deadly crystalline silica dust.”
