Hefty $375,000 fine for engineering stone provider for silica dust exposure
An engineered stone provider has been fined $375,000 for exposing a worker to silica dust over almost seven years.
The following is article is an abridgement of an article originally published on the WorkSafe NSW website.
Fined for silica dust exposure over almost seven years
An engineered stone provider has been fined $375,000 for exposing a worker to silica dust over almost seven years. The company pleaded guilty to the charge in December 2023, admitting failure to minimise exposure to airborne respirable crystalline silica during tasks like cutting, grinding, drilling, and polishing.
Silicosis, a serious condition with a sili name, is caused by inhaling silica dust particles and poses significant health risks to workers in the engineered stone industry. SafeWork NSW continues compliance inspections and penalties for non-compliant operators to ensure workplace safety.
For more information on SafeWork’s silica compliance work, you can visit the SafeWork website.
A global effort to combat silicosis and more amendments coming September 2024
The growth in deadly silicosis over the past decade is the reason why NSW along with the rest of Australia agreed unanimously to ban engineered stone from July 1.
Additionally, a second set of amendments to the model WHS Regulations for engineered stone were agreed upon on Friday 10th May. These amendments give effect to the engineered stone ban from 1 July 2024 and provide stronger regulation of all materials containing crystalline silica from 1 September 2024.
SafeWork NSW comments
Trent Curtin, Head of SafeWork NSW, emphasises the significance of the upcoming ban on engineered stone in safeguarding workers' health:
"The upcoming ban on engineered stone is a significant move in the fight against silicosis and will ensure workers across the state are much safer at work.
In the meantime, SafeWork Inspectors will continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to workers lives being endangered through exposure to deadly crystalline silica dust.
These recent prosecutions demonstrate SafeWork’s commitment to ensuring that employers who do not take safety seriously will face consequences."
Sources
Engineered stone provider fined $375,000 after employee was exposed to silica dust by SafeWork NSW, 17th May, 2024.
