“The report found there was no safe level of silica, concluding: "The use of all engineered stone should be prohibited."”
Australia’s first silicosis case tied to engineered stone showed up in 2015. Hundreds followed, mostly young stonemasons who now need lung transplants. Caesarstone blames “poor compliance” and calls the reasoning flawed. Safe Work Australia found no safe level of silica, so the industry’s real argument is that the workers should have breathed more carefully. Somewhere between 2 and 3 million kitchens got a fashionable benchtop paid for in tradies’ lungs.