Australia has become the first country in the world to ban engineered stone, following rising cases of silicosis among workers who handle the material, reports Dezeen.

Engineered stone is a type of material made by mixing crushed stone with a resin binder and used for countertops, walls and flooring. While engineered stone is valued as a durable and affordable alternative to natural stone, the engineered materials release a fine silica dust into the air when cut, and critics say engineered stone workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) are significantly over-represented in silicosis cases.

On December 13, 2023, the Australia state and territory governments unanimously agreed to prohibit the use, supply and manufacture of all engineered stone with the majority of jurisdictions beginning July 1, 2024.

In October, Safe Work Australia, a policy body representing the interests government bodies, workers and employers, published the Decision Regulation Impact Statement: Prohibition on the use of engineered stone (Decision RIS). The Decision RIS was developed by Safe Work Australia at the request of WHS ministers and was informed by stakeholder consultation, independent economic analysis, and an expert review of evidence.

The Decision RIS recommended a prohibition on the use of all engineered stone, irrespective of crystalline silica content, to protect the health and safety of workers.

The move began nine months ago when Australian news outlets reported that suppliers were not doing enough to warn people of the dangers of working with the material and the country's construction union launched a campaign calling for the ban.