It’s now no secret that tradies working alongside engineered stone have been unknowingly risking their lives for years. But a new study from Monash University has exposed just how widespread and deadly the problem has become.
Silicosis—a permanent and incurable lung disease—is caused by inhaling fine silica dust, which is released when cutting, grinding, or polishing engineered stone.
Despite growing concerns, the material remained widely used in kitchens and bathrooms for decades until January 1, 2025, when Australia became the first country to ban engineered stone following overwhelming evidence of its danger to workers.
But for thousands of tradies who’ve already been exposed, the risk isn’t over. Experts now warn that many more cases are yet to be diagnosed, labelling the disease as one of the most urgent workplace health crises in modern history.
Silicosis cases skyrocketed since 2015
Led by Dr Ryan Hoy, the study analyzed two major data sources: workers’ compensation claims and a clinical registry of silicosis diagnoses. The results were shocking:
- 536 silicosis-related compensation claims were recorded in Victoria over 32 years.
- 90 per cent of these claims (482 cases) occurred between 2015 and 2022—a staggering 27-fold increase from the previous eight years.
- The median age of diagnosed workers dropped to 39 years, compared to 50 in earlier periods, meaning younger workers are being affected.
- Since 2019, 210 tradies have been diagnosed with silicosis in Victoria alone.
- Nearly a quarter of these cases (22 per cent) were severe, classified as advanced silicosis.
Dr Hoy emphasized the importance of government-funded screening, which began in 2019.
“Following commencement of active health assessment of hundreds of stone benchtop industry workers in Victoria from 2019, the results of our study confirm the alarming scale of the silicosis outbreak,” he said.
What this means for tradies
For years, tradies cutting, grinding, and polishing engineered stone have been breathing in deadly dust, often without knowing the risks. Unlike natural stone, engineered stone can contain up to 95 per cent silica, making it far more dangerous.
Australia’s nationwide ban on engineered stone took full effect on January 1, 2025, after a staged rollout that started in mid-2024. The ban prohibits the import, sale, and use of engineered stone containing more than 1 per cent silica, protecting thousands of workers from further exposure.
However, Dr Hoy warns that thousands of workers may already be at risk due to past exposure.
“The ban of engineered stone is a very important step in protecting workers; however, there has been two decades of workers being exposed to highly dangerous conditions due to the use of this material,” he said.
“This will result in workers remaining at risk for decades to come.”
What’s next?
The Australian government has stepped in with a range of worker protections, including stricter WorkSafe regulations and health screenings. But experts say the real challenge is ensuring early diagnosis and proper support for those already affected.
Moving forward, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, Danny Pearson, reinforced the government’s stance that no Australian should be exposed to fatal risks “simply by going to work”
“It’s just unacceptable,” he said earlier this year.
“We led the way with regulation and licensing in Victoria, and now a national ban will ensure workers are protected from this shocking disease.”
With hundreds of thousands of workers in the stone industry globally, the Australian ban is setting an example for other countries yet to take action. Dr Hoy urges international governments to launch similar health screenings, warning that many workers overseas may be suffering undiagnosed silicosis.
“The results should be extremely concerning for other countries where engineered stone is popular but there has been no screening of workers,” he said.
For Aussie tradies, the message is clear—if you’ve worked with engineered stone, get checked. Silicosis is irreversible, but early detection can make a huge difference.
Materials that are still safe to use
While engineered stone is now banned, several common building materials are still safe for use, including:
- Concrete and cement products
- Bricks, pavers, and blocks
- Ceramic and porcelain tiles
- Roof tiles
- Grout, mortar, and render
- Plasterboard
