Building industry backs high-silica kitchen benchtop ban

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A major building lobby backs a ban on engineered stone benchtops with deadly concentrations of crystalline silica and has called on the government to urgently fund the testing of workers on construction sites.

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A spokesman for Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke said the government would respond to Safe Work’s recommendations once they were made.Burke has given Safe Work until August to produce its findings, with the agency canvassing multiple options with health groups, unions and industry, including a ban on products containing more than 40 per cent crystalline silica.

But it also says it’s not aware of evidence that shows 40 per cent represents the threshold between lower and higher-risk engineered stone products, which can have up to 95 per cent crystalline silica. The option proposed by Safe Work would require anyone working with engineered stone with higher concentrations – for the purpose of removal, repair or small modifications – to have a license, including mandatory training and air and health monitoring.

 

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