Engineered stone ban announced
A ban on the use, supply and manufacture of engineered stone was announced following a meeting of federal and state ministers this week.
This week we welcomed a decision by ministers to ban the use, supply and manufacture of engineered stone. The federal government also announced a ban on imports of the product.
Engineered stone has been linked to silicosis — a debilitating and often fatal condition — with a substantial increase in recent years of the condition linked to the product.
AMA President Stephen Robson wrote to every relevant state and territory minister earlier this year urging them to follow the scientific evidence and implement a complete ban of engineered stone.
Safe Work Australia had investigated the product and found engineered stone workers develop silicosis at a "disproportionate" rate compared to other industries. Most engineered stone workers who developed silicosis were under 35, and engineered stone workers face a faster disease progression and have a higher mortality rate than silicosis victims in other industries.
