Overview of Artificial Stone-Induced Silicosis
January 19, 2024California Cracks Down on Silica Dust with Emergency Standard: Protecting Workers from Artificial Stone Hazards
January 23, 2024Blog
Artificial Stone Banned in Australia: A Timeline of Advocacy and Action
Growing Concern and Calls for a Ban:
- 2019: Silicosis victims, unions, and medical professionals advocate for a ban due to high worker exposure to silica dust.
- 2020: Dr. Alison Reid of Curtin University presents damning evidence and argues for a complete ban, drawing parallels to the asbestos epidemic.
- 2022: Professor Lin Fritschi and others estimate hundreds of lung cancers and thousands of silicosis cases could be prevented by a ban.
- November 2022: Unions, medical organizations, and the public ramp up pressure, with the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union proposing its own ban.
Shifting Momentum and Regulatory Action:
- February 2023: Medical bodies unite in calling for a ban.
- February 2023: Even major manufacturer Cosentino calls for a ban on high-silica products.
- February 28, 2023: Work, health and safety ministers agree to ask Safe Work Australia to develop a ban plan.
- August 2023: Safe Work Australia presents options for a ban to ministers.
Safe Work Australia Recommends and Australia Implements Ban:
- October 27, 2023: Safe Work Australia recommends a complete ban, citing serious health risks and inadequate control measures, and the impossibility of safely fabricating artificial stone.
- December 13, 2023: All Australian ministers unanimously vote to ban engineered stone, effective July 1, 2024. This marks a historic first as the world's first national ban on artificial stone.
