Prohibition on the use of engineered stone

Consultation has concluded

Commonwealth, state and territory WHS ministers met on 27 October 2023, and agreed Safe Work Australia publish the Decision Regulation Impact Statement: Prohibition on the use of engineered stone. The Decision RIS recommends a prohibition on the use of all engineered stone, irrespective of crystalline silica content, to protect the health and safety of workers. The report was informed by stakeholder consultation, independent economic analysis, and an expert review of evidence. 

The Agency thanks the workers, PCBUs, employer and worker representatives, WHS professionals, medical professionals, academics, government agencies, industry and peak bodies who made submissions to the consultation. Submissions have been published where the author has given consent for publication and there are no privacy or confidentiality concerns.

WHS ministers have agreed to meet again before the end of 2023 to consider the recommendations in the report.

This consultation paper presents three options for a prohibition on the use of engineered stone. Safe Work Australia is seeking stakeholder feedback on the proposed options, including evidence and data to inform the impact analysis of these options.

Previously, Safe Work Australia developed a Decision Regulation Impact Statement: Managing the risks of respirable crystalline silica at work (Decision RIS) which analysed the impacts of regulatory and non-regulatory options to manage the risks of respirable crystalline silica at work.

The Decision RIS was considered by Work Health and Safety (WHS) ministers at their meeting on 28 February 2023. WHS ministers agreed to:

  • implement National awareness and behaviour change initiatives,
  • implement regulation of high-risk crystalline silica processes for all materials (including engineered stone) across all industries.
  • further analysis and consultation on prohibition of use of engineered stone including consideration of silica content levels and other risk factors, and a national licensing system for products that are not subject to a ban or legacy products.

Following this consultation, a new Decision Regulation Impact Statement will be provided to WHS ministers for their consideration of a prohibition on engineered stone.

Submissions are requested by 11:59 AEST 2 April 2023.

If you are unable to lodge your submission using Engage, please email, occhygiene@swa.gov.au.

If you are planning to make a submission via email or mail, please fill out the cover sheet .

This is not required if you are making a submission online via the Engage portal.

Respondents may choose how their submission is published on the Safe Work Australia website by choosing from the following options:

  • submission published
  • submission published anonymously, or
  • submission not published.

For further information on the publication of submissions on Engage, please refer to the Safe Work Australia Privacy Policy and the Engagement HQ privacy policy.

Enquiries can be directed to: Director, Occupational Diseases and Hygiene Policy by email: occhygiene@swa.gov.au.

Commonwealth, state and territory WHS ministers met on 27 October 2023, and agreed Safe Work Australia publish the Decision Regulation Impact Statement: Prohibition on the use of engineered stone. The Decision RIS recommends a prohibition on the use of all engineered stone, irrespective of crystalline silica content, to protect the health and safety of workers. The report was informed by stakeholder consultation, independent economic analysis, and an expert review of evidence. 

The Agency thanks the workers, PCBUs, employer and worker representatives, WHS professionals, medical professionals, academics, government agencies, industry and peak bodies who made submissions to the consultation. Submissions have been published where the author has given consent for publication and there are no privacy or confidentiality concerns.

WHS ministers have agreed to meet again before the end of 2023 to consider the recommendations in the report.

This consultation paper presents three options for a prohibition on the use of engineered stone. Safe Work Australia is seeking stakeholder feedback on the proposed options, including evidence and data to inform the impact analysis of these options.

Previously, Safe Work Australia developed a Decision Regulation Impact Statement: Managing the risks of respirable crystalline silica at work (Decision RIS) which analysed the impacts of regulatory and non-regulatory options to manage the risks of respirable crystalline silica at work.

The Decision RIS was considered by Work Health and Safety (WHS) ministers at their meeting on 28 February 2023. WHS ministers agreed to:

  • implement National awareness and behaviour change initiatives,
  • implement regulation of high-risk crystalline silica processes for all materials (including engineered stone) across all industries.
  • further analysis and consultation on prohibition of use of engineered stone including consideration of silica content levels and other risk factors, and a national licensing system for products that are not subject to a ban or legacy products.

Following this consultation, a new Decision Regulation Impact Statement will be provided to WHS ministers for their consideration of a prohibition on engineered stone.

Submissions are requested by 11:59 AEST 2 April 2023.

If you are unable to lodge your submission using Engage, please email, occhygiene@swa.gov.au.

If you are planning to make a submission via email or mail, please fill out the cover sheet .

This is not required if you are making a submission online via the Engage portal.

Respondents may choose how their submission is published on the Safe Work Australia website by choosing from the following options:

  • submission published
  • submission published anonymously, or
  • submission not published.

For further information on the publication of submissions on Engage, please refer to the Safe Work Australia Privacy Policy and the Engagement HQ privacy policy.

Enquiries can be directed to: Director, Occupational Diseases and Hygiene Policy by email: occhygiene@swa.gov.au.