Benchtops of engineered stone to be banned in Australia

@JudyEv (382428)
Rockingham, Australia
December 13, 2023 6:29am CST
As from June 2024, engineered stone will be banned in Australia, making it the first country to do so. Engineered stone is a durable and more affordable product than natural materials such as granite and marble, and is mostly used for kitchen benches and bathroom vanities.. However, hundreds of workers have contracted silicosis from working with the material. Companies which manufacture the stone are blaming the rise in deaths on poor compliance with and enforcement of safety standards. While silicosis can occur in other occupations, the numbers are disproportionate in those who work with the stone. Those being struck down are mostly young men in their prime. The disease leaves them so short of breath that they are mostly unable to manage normal daily activities. Alternatives that have been mentioned include porcelain, tiles, timber, concrete and laminate. A photo of our benchtop would just show as grey so I’ll add one of Vince tossing pancakes. You can see the benchtop in the background.
16 people like this
14 responses
Juliaacv
@Juliaacv (56374)
• Canada
13 Dec 23
You took a good action photo, and it isn't even of a horse. It is admirable that the country is banning this based on the ill effects it has for those who handle and work with it.
2 people like this
BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (51838)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
13 Dec 23
"Action photo"
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382428)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Dec 23
Haha - thanks! Some of these new materials become very popular very quickly but not enough tests are done on them first.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502729)
• Italy
13 Dec 23
Congratulations to Vince, he is doing a great job. We have a granite benchtop, I had a laminate in Monte Carlo. Granite is a lot better, I can put on it a hot pot from the stove and it does not suffer any damage.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502729)
• Italy
16 Dec 23
@JudyEv We have so much granite in this area of Switzerland, it's not very expensive.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382428)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Dec 23
@LadyDuck We have a lot of granite too but I don't know if it's the right sort to make countertops from. As a country, there are now many things we don't manufacture for ourselves, which is a great pity.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382428)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Dec 23
Granite is probably the ultimate. It is expensive here but once it's installed it's there forever.
1 person likes this
Marie
@Tampa_girl7 (54730)
• United States
14 Dec 23
This is a good thing that they are banning it.
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
15 Dec 23
I learned something new this morning. You call countertops benches. Benches here are something we sit on. I'm glad they are banning engineered stone, which causes major health problems. Hopefully, more countries will follow your example. You took a good action picture of Vince.
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
16 Dec 23
@JudyEv I'm glad he's good at tossing pancakes. I never tried it. I'm glad benches are also something you sit on.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382428)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Dec 23
He is really good at tossing pancakes. We have benches that we sit on too.
1 person likes this
Hanni Harel
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
14 Dec 23
@JudyEv I can understand why they are banning them after you explained what is going on with them.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382428)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Dec 23
It's a good thing that they are banning this product.
Hanni Harel
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
17 Dec 23
@JudyEv I am glad that you feel that they should ban this product too.
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (222726)
• United States
14 Dec 23
I love the photo. I'm glad your country is taking the initiative to ban this material if it is making people sick. Have a good day.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382428)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Dec 23
They are calling it the new asbestosis. It's fatal eventually in all cases.
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (222726)
• United States
16 Dec 23
@JudyEv Wow. That's terrible.
1 person likes this
Amber
@AmbiePam (121073)
• United States
13 Dec 23
Oh, that’s good they are banning it then. Nothing is worth that kind of terrible impact. And Vince looks very good at what he does!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382428)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Dec 23
Vince has had a lot of practice at flipping! Hopefully far fewer people will come down with the disease now.
1 person likes this
BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (51838)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
13 Dec 23
I imagine that the installers have to cut to fit the counter tops, so shouldn't they wear masks when doing so? Oh, right... young men.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382428)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Dec 23
Certainly now they wear masks (and gowns in some cases) and they also use running water when they're cutting the tops. As you say, they have to cut the tops to fit.
1 person likes this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (135966)
• Marion, Ohio
13 Dec 23
That's sad that they are not following safety measures
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382428)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Dec 23
Not following the safety guidelines would have a lot to do as regards those who get silicosis and those who don't.
1 person likes this
Fiacre Banks
@xFiacre (14797)
• Ireland
13 Dec 23
@judyev All pretty things have a down side it seems.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382428)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Dec 23
They are good at coming up with these new products but not so good at testing the outcome of working with them.
1 person likes this
MARILYN
@Marilynda1225 (91155)
• United States
13 Dec 23
Vince is a pro at flipping those pancakes! The stone looks really nice but it's a shame so many workers are getting silicosis from working with it.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382428)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Dec 23
He has had a lot of flipping practice over the years. It's a good thing that they're banning the product. It will save a lot of lives.
Dena Miller
@Dena91 (17038)
• United States
13 Dec 23
What a great picture of Vince showing off his cooking skills. I am sorry for those who have become ill from installing engineered stone.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382428)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Dec 23
I'm glad you like the photo. He makes a mean pancake.
1 person likes this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (21492)
• London, England
14 Dec 23
There I was thinking that silicosis was in the past. Glad someone is doing something about it
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382428)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Dec 23
It's a shame they didn't give some thought years ago as to possible consequences of the use of this product.
M Cheung
@Beestring (15372)
• Hong Kong
13 Dec 23
That's the right thing to do.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382428)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Dec 23
Yes. Something needed to be done to stop the deaths of the workers.
1 person likes this