Do not crush engineered stone — unless an exception applies

Background

Engineered stone benchtops, panels or slabs, must not be processed — unless an exception applies — into crushed rock. Processing engineered stone benchtops, panels or slabs into crushed rock for supply or recycling for other purposes is prohibited and is not an exception.

The manufacture, supply, processing or installation of engineered stone benchtops, panels or slabs is banned in Victoria.

The ban is to help protect employees from inhaling deadly crystalline silica dust.

There are limited exceptions to the ban. The exceptions include the disposal of engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs.

Engineered stone cannot be processed unless an exception contained in regulation 319ZB of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 applies.

This means that engineered stone cannot be processed into crushed rock for the purpose of recycling and supply.

Health issues

Unless an exception applies, engineered stone must not be processed into crushed rock because it can produce crystalline silica dust. If breathed in, the dust can cause serious health issues.

When crystalline silica dust is inhaled, it can cause silicosis, a scarring of the lungs. Silicosis is a serious and incurable disease. Its symptoms include:

• shortness of breath
• coughing
• fatigue
• weight loss.

In severe cases, the damage caused by silicosis can require a lung transplant. It may even lead to death.

Breathing in silica dust can also cause other serious diseases, such as:

• lung cancer
• kidney disease
• autoimmune diseases, such as scleroderma
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Disposal of engineered stone

When engineered stone benchtops, panels or slabs are to be disposed of, they should be disposed of as industrial waste and need to be disposed of in line with Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) classification requirements. Contact the EPA for more information about your obligations.

Legal duties

From 1 July 2024, work involving the manufacture, supply, processing and installation of engineered stone benchtops, panels or slabs has been banned.

An employer, self-employed person or a person who has the management or control of a workplace must not carry out that work or allow or direct employees and independent contractors to carry out that work.

Specific controls are required when permitted engineered stone work involves an engineered stone process. An engineered stone process is also considered high risk crystalline silica work and an employer or self-employed person must comply with the high risk crystalline silica work obligations.

Processing engineered stone benchtops, panels or slabs into crushed rock for supply or recycling for other purposes is prohibited and is not an exception.