Artificial stone used to make kitchen and bathroom countertops has been linked to cases of death and irreversible lung injury in workers who cut, grind and polish this increasingly popular material.

The biggest lung disease crisis since asbestos: Our love of stone kitchen benchtops is killing workers

Doctors are worried Australia is facing the worst occupational lung disease crisis since the peak of the asbestos disaster.

Stonemasons who cut engineered stone into a popular type of kitchen benchtop are contracting accelerated silicosis at alarming levels, after being exposed to unsafe levels of silica dust.

Did you know?

Australia has the second-highest mesothelioma death rate in the world, trailing only that of the United Kingdom. Mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure, is leaving its mark on the nation with more than 10,000 people succumbing to the disease since the early 1980s. According to cancer experts, an additional 25,000 people are expected to die from it over the next four decades.

• 606 deaths from mesothelioma in Australia in 2011
• Nearly 700 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in Australia in 2011
• 90 cases of mesothelioma in New Zealand in 2010

No Matter What You Do, Safety Starts With You!

It’s recommended that the removal of asbestos materials is performed by a licensed asbestos removalist. However, when renovating or performing maintenance around the home you may come across asbestos containing materials so it’s particularly important you
use the correct Personal Protective Equipment at all times.

Reach out to a Safety Specialist if you’re unsure of any aspect of PPE required to safeguard you against potential asbestos hazards.