A new report has called for a ban on all engineered stone in Australia, but governments will not make any changes until they decide on a "national response".
Engineered stone, a popular material often used for kitchen benches, has been linked to a surge in permanent lung disease among stonemasons due to its high silica content.
The most common is silicosis, an irreversible lung condition that at its worst can cause premature death.
Safe Work Australia was asked to look at possible solutions to the crisis, but concluded a complete ban was the only option, saying regulators had failed to protect workers from the deadly disease.
"Continued work with engineered stone poses an unacceptable risk to workers," the report said.
"The use of all engineered stone should be prohibited."
The report found engineered stone workers not only faced a greater risk of developing silicosis, but also saw a faster disease progression and higher chance of death when they did get it.
National Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke said state and federal governments would meet later this year to decide on the next steps.
"The final report is powerful and compelling. It shows very clearly why we need further action to protect workers from this deadly disease," Mr Burke said.
The shiny material behind a rise in silicosis
Engineered stone exploded in popularity throughout the 2000s because it is cheaper and more affordable than other building materials, like granite and marble.
However, when cut it releases a fine silica dust, which can harm the lungs when inhaled.
Safe Work's report said the first Australian case of silicosis linked to engineered stone was diagnosed in 2015, and that cases had "risen substantially" since then.
"While silicosis cases have been found in workers across a range of industries and silica-containing materials, a disproportionate number of silicosis diagnoses are in engineered stone workers," the report said.
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2023-10-27 04:02:28Z
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