Originally published by the Australian Institute of Health & Safety
WorkSafe Victoria’s silica field team visited 52 industry sites in the past month – issuing 25 compliance notices and seizing more than 65 samples of suspected engineered stone, as well as products branded as porcelain and sintered stone, to test for silica and resin content.
As a result, the silica field team applied non-disturbance notices to nearly 1000 banned engineered stone benchtops to prevent their supply to Victorian businesses and consumers.
Importers, suppliers and manufacturers were put on notice prior to the ban and have had ample time to comply, said WorkSafe Victoria executive director health and safety, Sam Jenkin.
“Most businesses are doing the right thing and are moving away from engineered stone, but unfortunately we have found a small number have continued to put workers at risk,” Jenkin said.
The ban was introduced in response to rapidly increasing rates of silicosis and silica-related diseases in Australian workers, including a large number of workers exposed to crystalline silica dust while processing engineered stone products such as benchtops, panels or slabs.
Silicosis is a debilitating and potentially fatal disease that has impacted more than 680 Victorian workers since 2018, including 20 who have lost their lives.
WorkSafe Victoria manager earth resources and silica, Ben Wright, said his team had already referred two duty holders for investigation for suspected supply and processing of engineered stone products after 1 July.
Inspectors have also issued improvement notices to duty holders who didn’t have the necessary hazard control statements or information about the silica content of alternative products such as porcelain or sintered stone, he said.
WorkSafe is working to ensure the construction industry is aware of their ongoing obligations for controlling crystalline silica dust, with construction inspectors providing guidance and advice to 204 residential and commercial builders in the past month.
SafeWork SA also announced recently that it will conduct snap inspections of stone businesses to ensure compliance with the new ban on engineered stone.
Under the ban, businesses that fail to follow the new work health and safety laws could face fines of up to $42,000, while individual workers or managers who flout the laws could receive fines of up to $8400.
SafeWork SA’s compliance and enforcement campaign will include onsite inspections to ensure workers are not put at risk and to educate businesses on the new mandatory process of notifying the regulator before undertaking permitted work.
