The nation’s peak lung health body has commended hardware giant Bunnings, as well as Ikea, on their decisive action to ban engineered stone from their stores across the country.
Lung Foundation Australia CEO Mark Brooke said it was a step that would absolutely save lives.
“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,” Mr Brooke said.
“Health experts, workers’ safety unions and now Australia’s largest hardware store network have all said, enough is enough when it comes to unsafe, unnecessary exposure to high levels of silica dust.”
Mr Brooke said Lung Foundation Australia will continue to advocate for a total importation ban on engineered stone products, working to help implement recommendations from the National Silicosis Prevention Strategy 2023-2028 and accompanying National Action Plan.
“Immediate action is needed to protect workers from hazardous exposures across a range of industries and ensure a nationally consistent legislation for the monitoring and health surveillance of workers exposed to silica dust across all affected industries,” he said.
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For media enquiries please contact:
Lung Foundation Australia Media and Communications Specialist
Anna Hilton
0408 191 192