Engineered stone ban in effect from 1 July 2024

Builders, renovators, fabricators, and those working in the construction industry are being reminded of the upcoming national ban on the use, supply, manufacture, and installation of engineered stone which will come into effect in Queensland on 1 July 2024.

Business should not be entering new contracts for the use of engineered stone. Ministers announced on 13 December 2023 that they were prohibiting the use of engineered stone and expected that only contracts entered into before the end of 2023 were to continue to be fulfilled. That work must comply with Queensland's approved codes of practice, which contain legally enforceable safety standards for controlled work with materials containing crystalline silica, including engineered stone.

An exception to Queensland's prohibition on all engineered stone will be the ongoing removal, repair or minor modification of previously installed product. For previously installed engineered stone, effective dust controls will be required.

Details of the ban were agreed by Work Health and Safety Ministers on 22 March 2024. A summary of Ministers' decisions is available online.

Businesses are encouraged to visit the national Safe Work Australia website for further updates.