Stone benchtops are an extremely popular feature within modern & contemporary homes. They add a touch of luxury to your kitchen & can be used in almost any home theme. But the popularity of these bench tops may be coming to an end, as Safe Work Australia considers banning them because their fabrication involves inhaling crystalline silica dust. This has led to a spate of stonemasons suing their employers for silicosis.
Manufactured Stone Benchtops Australia
Manufactured Stone Benchtops Australia is grappling with the resurgence of a once-rare lung disease that has been dubbed “the new asbestos”. Tradespeople are breathing in fine dust with crystalline silica crystals from cutting artificial stone, also known as engineered or composite benchtops. This can lead to the deadly lung disease silicosis. Until recently, the industry was confident that their products were safer than natural stone. But now, a growing number of former stonemasons are suing their employers for failing to provide safe working conditions. They are claiming they were not properly warned about the risks of cutting engineered stone. Many have reportedly reached confidential settlements.
WorkSafe’s general manager of health and safety, Catherine Epps, is shocked that few fabricators have taken up a free training course to reduce silica exposure. She has called for mandatory accreditation of all fabricators, but Mike Arthur, general manager of Laminex New Zealand (a Fletcher-owned supplier of Caesarstone), says that could be interpreted as cartel behaviour. He agrees that focusing solely on silica is a mistake. Any dust tiny enough to enter the lungs will cause problems, he says. But he also points out that other minerals used in manufactured stone – such as magnesium, potassium and feldspar – are equally harmful.
Types Of Stone Benchtops Australia
There are a number of different stone benchtops Australia on the market, all of which have their own unique qualities. It is important to choose the one that will both suit your taste & provide the functionality you require in your home. It is also essential to buy from a reputable business so that you can be confident of the quality and performance of your new benchtop. Natural stone comes in a range of colours, styles & finishes which allows for beautiful centrepieces that will make a statement in your kitchen or bathroom. It is durable, heat resistant & non-porous making it ideal for high traffic areas of the home. It is also easy to clean & requires very little maintenance to maintain its good looks.
Reconstituted or engineered stone is a man-made product that combines natural quartz with resins and pigments to create a durable material that can be used as a benchtop. It is a popular option for Australian homes as it is hard-wearing, stain and scratch resistant and doesn’t need to be sealed regularly. It is also heat resistant and comes in a wide variety of colours. It is also a greener choice as it is made from recycled materials. The only drawback of reconstituted or manufactured stone is that it can chip if not treated with care.
Methods Of Stone Benchtops
When it comes to choosing a Manufactured Stone Benchtops Australia for your home, there are many factors to take into account. You must consider your style, colour & finish, as well as any additional features you may want to include, such as pop up power points & tapware. It’s also important to work out your budget before you begin the process. The Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) has called on the NSW parliament to ban engineered stone products. The dust produced when dry cutting these benchtops can cause the incurable lung disease silicosis, the CFMEU said. “This product is killing workers and placing a strain on the NSW Dust Disease Scheme,” the CFMEU said in a media statement.
Engineered stone, which is a popular option for benchtops in new houses, contains silica crystals. These crystals can lead to silicosis, an incurable lung condition that is similar to asbestos. It is estimated that around half a million Australians are exposed to silica in the workplace. The CFMEU wants a national ban on the use of engineered stone for kitchen, bathroom & laundry bench tops. Safe Work Australia is considering the proposal. Some products contain up to 95% silica. Others have lower concentrations of the deadly mineral, but still pose risks.