Bunnings drops engineered stone from its stores after tradies came down with silicosis and demanded an immediate ban on deadly product
Bunnings has announced it will remove man-made stone from its shelves after hundreds of tradies who worked on it developed silicosis – a terminal disease.
The hardware giant succumbed to public pressure, which was championed by the CMFEU, which took credit for the takedown on Tuesday.
Kitchen worktops with artificial stone will be removed from the Bunnings product range on December 31.
Man-made stone was linked to silicosis due to the high silica content that tradies inhaled during the cutting process.
When silica dust becomes trapped in the lungs, it is impossible to remove and can lead to fatal cases of chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Ben Harrison, 34, worked as a stonemason on the Gold Coast for ten years before developing silicosis. He had fought for Bunnings to ban the product, claiming it ‘profited from death’.
Bunnings has banned the sale of man-made stone in its stores after it was linked to silicosis, a terminal disease among tradies who worked on it.
Cells from the lungs of a patient with silicosis. Notice that the speck of silica dust shines brightly
CFMEU national secretary Zach Smith said Bunnings’ ban on the product is a start and the union will now push harder for a national ban.
“If even a major company that has so far profited from the lives of workers admits that it has lost any remaining social license to sell this deadly stone, no government can impose the ban,” he wrote in a statement.
‘The only reason Bunnings ultimately sided with employee health was because of pressure from CFMEU members who were passionate about saving lives.
“All retailers should immediately follow suit. IKEA talks a big social responsibility play, but fills the shelves with countertops that kill Australians.
“Today, all governments and businesses are on notice that Australians will accept nothing less than a total ban on the import, production and use of artificial stone.”
Silica is often called the ‘asbestos of our generation’ and its ban has been the subject of public debate for years.
The Australian Engineered Stone Advisory Group, which represents most of Australia’s artificial stone suppliers, recently launched an awareness campaign for the continued sale of man-made stone.
It claimed that banning the product completely would not solve the problem, but a limit on the silica content in the material would prevent more tradies from becoming ill.
“A complete ban on Engineered Stone is not the answer and will not eliminate Silicosis, but by banning Engineered Stone over 40 percent silica, combined with education and licensing, we are creating change for the future,” it wrote.
Caesarstone, one of the campaign signatories, endorsed the idea of a “complete silica safety plan.”
“Caesarstone accepts that there are risks to employees if proper WHS techniques are not followed,” a spokesperson told Ny Breaking Australia.
‘But that applies to all stone that contains silica, not just artificial stone. When cutting stone with a 10 percent silica content, exactly the same WHS techniques should be used and maintained as when cutting stone with a 95 percent silica content.
‘That is why a ban on artificial stone alone will not solve the problem of silicosis. It will continue to expose workers to the risks of all other stones containing silica, including most countertop replacement materials such as granite.”
Harrison’s wife, Cristale, compared the petition to the work of the asbestos industries when they also tried to block a ban on the similarly toxic substance in the early 2000s.
Ben Harrison was diagnosed with silicosis the day before his 30th birthday after a decade of inhaling silica dust while cutting silicone-based kitchen worktops on the Gold Coast
Caesarstone, a major producer of artificial stone, strongly opposes a blanket ban on man-made stone and has instead adopted a ‘complete silica safety plan’.
Doctors told Mr Harrison he had the incurable disease the day before his 30th birthday, after colleagues persuaded him to get tested.
Since then, the former stonemason has been making weekly doctor visits, sometimes as many as three a week when his symptoms flare, and has been forced to wear a mask when outside his home to prevent infection.
Mrs Harrison told Ny Breaking Australia the diagnosis has left her husband constantly tired and in need of rest.
When the couple learned that Mr Harrison had silicosis, they became engaged two days later and fought to ensure they could get married before his condition made it impossible.
“We got married on October 14 so we can make sure we get married before he passes away,” Mrs Harrison said.
While planning the wedding, the couple also worked with the Lung Foundation to pressure the government into a complete ban on the substance.
“Bunnings only profits from death,” Mrs. Harrison said in September. “They don’t care about the consequences.”
Ben Harrison, 34, married his longtime fiancée, Cristale, on Oct. 14 after years of delays as the couple battled Mr. Harrison’s diagnosis of severe silicosis.
About 80 guests arrived for the wedding in Devonport, Tasmaniaincluding several former colleagues of Mr Harrison, who also had silicosis including his witness, who is also in his early thirties.
Mrs Harrison said she could barely get through her vows without choking back tears.
“I think I cried on and off all day,” she said.
“I was so happy that we were getting married, but I think I was also scared because we live in such unknown circumstances and I just don’t know what will happen next.”
Bleach is now a staple in their home, along with wearing masks outdoors, as the couple and their three young children try to prevent the “next big infection.”
“We have his diagnosis hanging over our heads all the time,” Ms Harrison added.
What is silicosis?
Silicosis is an aggressive and incurable lung disease caused by inhaling crystalline silica (sand) dust.
The disease has been recognized as occurring in workers who have been exposed to dust for hundreds of years – usually workers exposed to mineral dust for long periods of time, for example while working in mines.
When products containing crystalline silica are cut, ground, polished or otherwise processed, very fine dust particles are released into the air, usually so small as to be invisible.
Silicosis means that silica dust slowly causes scarring in the lungs. The disease usually affects traders
These are then inhaled and can travel deep into the lungs, where they can cause serious damage to your lungs and health.
Exposure to crystalline silica dust can cause chronic bronchitis and emphysema, among other things. Symptoms of silica dust exposure include shortness of breath, severe cough, chest pain and fatigue.
There is no such thing as silica cancer. However, the presence of silica dust in the lungs can significantly increase the risk of developing lung cancer. Lung cancer from silica dust is also more likely if the person has smoked.
Silicosis is a disease characterized by inflammation and scarring of the lungs. Silicosis is generally a progressive condition, which can lead to the development of other lung diseases involving silica dust and can lead to death.