Silica dust in engineered benches is killing our tradies!
The National Dust Disease Taskforce is looking into how to best to handle the resurgence of the fatal lung disease silicosis.
This can develop after breathing in silica dust when cutting artificial stone, also known as engineered, composite or manufactured stone used for kitchen benchtops.
But this is not the first time we’ve been alerted to the long-term effects of exposure to hazardous dust. Think asbestos.
So how, in a country like Australia, do we suddenly see young workers dying of this completely preventable disease? What lessons can Australia learn from tackling asbestos to manage this latest preventable occupational hazard?
The danger of cutting and grinding engineered stone is real!
The cases seem to be arising from cutting artificial stone. This can contain up to 95 per cent silica, compared with less than 40 per cent silica in natural stone.
Cutting artificial stone has emerged as a major hazard with reports there have been 260 cases of silicosis in Australia, mostly in Queensland.
And there are likely to be more cases developing!
Our Durezza range of products are 100% certified silica free, safe and sustainable.
Source: This post is taken from Domain.com.au National News article ‘Engineered stone benchtops are killing our tradies’
