A ban on engineered stone importation into Australia puts us at the world forefront in the fight to obliterate the deadly resurgence of silicosis completely, the nation’s peak lung health body said today.
Lung Foundation Australia CEO Mark Brooke said the decisive action was a step that would save countless lives.
“Lung Foundation Australia has been fighting for almost 5 years to see the scourge of silicosis taken on seriously by industry and government, and we stand with the thousands of Aussie workers and their families who said, enough is enough,” Mr Brooke said.
“The latest research tells us one in four stonemasons have developed this debilitating, often fatal yet completely preventable disease and its resurgence is directly related to engineered stone, an interiors fashion product.
“Health experts, workers’ safety unions, huge hardware and homeware store networks and now the Australian Government are all in lock step when it comes to preventing unsafe, unnecessary exposure to high levels of silica dust.”
Mr Brooke said Lung Foundation Australia will continue working to help implement recommendations from the draft National Silicosis Prevention Strategy 2023-2028 and accompanying National Action Plan.
For media enquiries please contact:
Lung Foundation Australia Media and Communications Specialist
Anna Hilton
0408 191 192
annah@lungfoundation.com.au