News
6 May, 2024
National Ban on Engineered Stone to Take Effect in Queensland from July 2024
The Miles Government has confirmed that the national ban on engineered stone will be fully implemented in Queensland from July 1, 2024.
The Miles Government has confirmed that the national ban on engineered stone will be fully implemented in Queensland from July 1, 2024. This ban will apply to the manufacturing, supply, processing, and installation of engineered stone products, including benchtops, panels, and slabs, regardless of prior contracts.
The government has decided against a transition period, deeming the risks of exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) – which can cause serious health conditions like silicosis – as unacceptable. Work with legacy engineered stone, installed before July 2024, will be allowed but must comply with a national framework under model work health and safety laws.
Minister for Industrial Relations Grace Grace emphasized Queensland’s leadership in worker safety, noting that the state was the first to push for the ban and implement protective codes. She also highlighted the LNP’s inaction at the federal level on this issue.
