Homeowners warned of looming ban on dangerous renovation product

Homeowners doing renovations have been warned of a looming engineered stone ban aimed to protect workers from deadly lung disease.

The supply or installation of engineered stone will be outlawed nationally from July 1. Australia is one of the first countries to scrap the product from the market, after deaths and compensation claims from several hundred affected stonemasons.

Renovators have been advised that no new contracts for engineered stone can be entered into.

The ban has been a long time coming but will be cold comfort to the workers living with incurable silicosis.

Silicosis is a serious, sometimes life-threatening lung disease caused by the composition of engineered stone. Long-term exposure to the silica dust created during the cutting and installation, and inhaled by stonemasons, has been linked to silicosis.

In December 2023, it emerged that 700 stonemasons are living on compensation after developing the debilitating disease from their work with the popular and affordable product used as kitchen and bathroom bench tops.

It has been compared to asbestos and even required some workers to undergo lung transplants.

Australia’s government work health and safety agency, Safe Work Australia, released a report in October 2023 recommending engineered stone be completely prohibited.

Existing engineered stone benchtops in properties will still be covered by consumer law, according to Western Australia’s consumer watchdog.

This will continue to entitle owners to a remedy if something goes wrong.

The WA government introduced a grace period to allow any contracts for engineered stone installation signed up to or on December 31, 2023 to be honoured until December 31, 2024.

“After this time, no engineered stone products are allowed to be installed despite any outstanding consumer contracts that may remain. There is no transition period for contracts entered into on or after 1 January 2024,” Consumer Protection WA said in a statement.

Consumer Protection WA Commissioner Trish Blake said the transition period was not provided for businesses to ink deals for more projects.

“We want consumers to know the six-month extension is only a ‘grace period’ in which traders can wind up and complete existing contracts signed in 2023 or earlier – it isn’t more time for them to sign up new customers who want engineered stone benchtops, panels or slabs,” she said in a statement.

“For consumers with contracts signed in 2024 that haven’t been completed, we would ideally like to see them renegotiate the terms with their suppliers and switch to a different product. If an agreement is unable to be reached, these consumers may be entitled to receive a refund.”

Blake dispelled any worries homeowners may have with existing engineered stone bench tops.

“If left undisturbed, engineered stone products do not pose a safety risk after installation in your home or workplace,” she said.

“That’s why it’s important to not do any DIY work on the engineered stone, as health risks may arise if silica dust is generated during its removal, repair, minor modification or disposal. Our best advice is to contact a qualified tradesperson.”

From September 1, Safe Work Australia advises there will be new regulation of all crystalline silica substances.