Ban on engineered stone in effect (1 July 2024)

• From 1 July 2024, work with engineered stone in Queensland must cease.
• Work with legacy products installed before 1 July will be permitted, subject to stringent safety measures.

Following the agreement of a national ban of engineered stone in December 2023, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) advises the ban is now in effect (July 1, 2024).

The ban means work with engineered stone in the manufacturing, supply, processing, and installation of benchtops, panels and slabs must cease even if contracts were entered into prior to the ban date.

The Queensland Government considered the ongoing risks of engineered stone to workers as unacceptable and therefore did not adopt a transition period for the ban.

Work with legacy products installed before 1 July 2024 - will be permitted and will be subject to a national framework under model work health and safety laws:

• Previously installed engineered stone does not need to be removed. It is safe as long as it remains intact and in place.
• Currently installed engineered stone can be repaired, modified or removed however it must be done by an authorised business.
• Businesses intending to work with previously installed engineered stone must notify WHS regulators accordingly, with failure to do so constituting an offence.

Queensland first proposed a ban in 2018 in response to escalating health impacts on workers, including silicosis, caused by the use of engineered stone.

Explainer/fast fact and or further information:

• Ban on engineered stone: protecting workers’ health
• Notification of permitted work with pre-existing engineered stone
• Respirable crystalline silica (general)

Queensland’s action on engineered stone:

• Audited all known engineered stone benchtop fabricators.
• Screened over 1,000 workers under Queensland’s WorkCover scheme.
• Implemented Australia’s first codes of practice for the engineered stone industry in 2019 and for silica in the construction industry in 2023.
• Established Australia’s first Dust Lung Disease register in July 2019.