The call comes in response to a damning report from Safe Work Australia, released by federal and state workplace ministers, recommending a complete ban on these benchtops to protect workers from contracting silicosis, an incurable disease caused by inhaling silica dust particles.
Ikea in Australia is facing accusations of “hypocrisy” as the national construction union calls on the furniture giant to remove a range of kitchen benchtops linked to a fatal disease
CFMEU national secretary Zach Smith criticized Ikea in Australia for not heeding the report’s recommendations and emphasized the serious health risks associated with the products. Smith urged Ikea in Australia’s chief executive and chief sustainability officer, Mirja Viinanen, to use her influence to save lives, stating that there is no safe way to work with these materials. Engineered stone benchtops, prevalent in Australian kitchens and bathrooms, contain high levels of crystalline silica, which poses significant health hazards when cut, ground, or polished. The Safe Work Australia report stressed that lower levels of crystalline silica do not ensure safety.
Ikea in Australia monitors government rules, collaborating with custom stone suppliers for safety and environmental compliance
State and federal workplace ministers are set to reconvene at the year’s end to determine the fate of engineered stone products. The CFMEU has vowed to prohibit its members from using or importing these products starting from July next year if government action is not taken. This move could potentially make Australia the first country to ban engineered stone altogether.
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