A harmful product typically used to make kitchen benchtops however linked to deadly lung ailments in younger tradies may very well be outlawed in Australia, however it is going to take “months” till the choice is made.
The states and territories unanimously agreed to think about prohibiting the home use of engineered stone at a gathering led by Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke on Tuesday.
But they may wait to obtain a report from Safe Work Australia earlier than making a closing determination, that means a ban nonetheless isn’t assured regardless of pleas from unions and well being consultants to behave.
The federal office security company has been tasked with investigating what a possible ban on engineered stone would appear to be, in addition to what extra laws are required to guard employees coping with silica mud.
Silica mud has been linked to a wave of diagnoses of most cancers and the doubtless terminal lung illness silicosis in stonemasons and tradespeople.
Modelling by Curtin University estimates that as much as 103,000 Australians throughout a spread of sectors, together with tunnelling, quarrying, cement work, mining, and development, will probably be identified with silicosis on account of publicity to silica mud at work and greater than 10,000 will develop lung most cancers.
The lethal mud is launched by completely different constructing merchandise, however it’s most potent in engineered stone, which is extra sturdy than marble and granite however can comprise as much as 95 per cent silica.
Mr Burke stated not all engineered stone contained such a excessive share of silica which meant it was tough to make a direct determination on whether or not or to not ban the product outright.
“What we’ve asked Safe Work Australia to do is scope out – if there were to be a prohibition – where that line will be drawn,” he informed reporters at Parliament House after assembly along with his state counterparts.
“And then to also scope out how you can have a nationally consistent licensing system for whatever remains that has been viewed as safe to be on the market.”
Mr Burke stated it will be “presumptuous” of him to say that each Australian jurisdiction had locked in banning engineered stone earlier than they’d obtained the report from Safe Work, which he conceded might take “quite some months”.
Because of the best way Australia’s work well being and security legal guidelines function, any new restrictions made beneath these legal guidelines must be developed by Safe Work Australia.
The adjustments would must be agreed to by two-thirds of the nation’s ministers who’re answerable for work well being and security after which legislated individually in every jurisdiction.
The earlier Coalition authorities arrange a nationwide mud ailments taskforce to analyze methods to restrict publicity to silica, as an growing variety of younger, in any other case wholesome folks had been identified with silicosis.
The taskforce stated engineered stone merchandise needs to be banned from July subsequent 12 months if vital security enhancements had not been made.
Mr Burke had urged the states to convey ahead the choice on whether or not to ban engineered stone, saying he didn’t need to repeat the error that was made ready 70 years to ban asbestos.
He stated on Tuesday he was hopeful there can be a unanimous determination as soon as Safe Work returned its report.
Asked if the commonwealth would think about overriding the states to make sure uniform laws had been in place, Mr Burke stated his start line was all the time to attempt to attain a consensus.
Victoria, which is the one state to not observe the nationwide WHS legal guidelines, adopted a licensing scheme to control engineered stone in late 2021.
The highly effective development union welcomed the ministers’ assembly on Tuesday as a “major step forward” however stated it will proceed its combat to ban engineered stone after having vowed to outlaw the product by July subsequent 12 months if the federal government didn’t act.
Incoming CFMEU nationwide secretary Zach Smith stated the union’s place was unmoved.
“Alongside a ban, we think it’s a sensible step for ministers commit to a licensing scheme for products already out there, similar to the way asbestos is dealt with,” he stated.
“But you can’t have one without the other. That’s why it’s absolutely critical this commitment becomes an enforceable ban as soon as possible.”
Originally printed as Safe Work to analyze banning engineered stone in Australia
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
