The federal government would be betraying workers if it palms off responsibility for silicosis deaths to state governments, the construction union says.
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The work safety watchdog released a report recommending a complete ban on the use of engineered stone products to prevent workers from developing deadly diseases and cancers.
While Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke acknowledged the strength of Safe Work Australia's report, he said any bans would be in the hands of states and territories through updates to work and safety laws.
He has pledged to work with the states and territories on a co-operative national response.
But Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) national secretary Zach Smith said the federal government needed to take responsibility by preventing the stone from being imported, banning its manufacturing and guiding other jurisdictions.
"Walking away from an import ban and simply saying 'this is on the states' is tantamount to a betrayal of workers," Mr Smith said in a statement on Monday.
"We need federal leadership here - that would ensure any wavering state ministers are not allowed to commit a deadly moral failure when it comes to banning the use of engineered stone through their work health and safety laws."
Mr Smith called on the federal government to add the product to the Border Force's prohibited goods list, pointing to its inclusion of asbestos.
"Like asbestos, engineered stone should be banned from entering the country and being manufactured here - you don't have to pick one or the other," he said.
"You either want to stop workers dying, or you don't."
Workers can be exposed to silica dust if their jobs involve breaking, crushing, griding or milling materials high in silica - like engineered stone benchtops, bricks, tiles, concrete and some plastic materials.
This means roughly 600,000 miners, construction workers, farmers and engineers are at risk of developing lung cancer, silicosis, kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from inhaling the silica particles.
Joanne Wade, head of national asbestos and dust disease at law firm Slater and Gordon, has welcomed the safety watchdog's recommendations and has urged governments to take immediate action.
"It is no exaggeration to say that banning engineered stone in benchtops will prevent the tragic deaths of many workers in this country, but we must act quickly," she said.
Citing the rate of undiagnosed silica-related injuries, the firm has also called on all workers exposed to silica dust to be provided access to mandatory high-resolution CT chest scans.
Safe Work Australia estimates the implementation and first 10 years of a ban of engineered stone would cost $251 million, though the report says the cost to industry "cannot outweigh the significant costs to Australian workers, their families and the broader community".
Australian Associated Press
