WHS ministers agree on engineered stone ban scope and exemptions
04 Apr 2024•BlueSafe Team•Source: Safe Work Australia
WHS ministers have agreed on the scope of the engineered stone ban, including exclusions for finished products and transitional arrangements for some existing contracts.
At a meeting on 22 March 2024, WHS ministers considered draft changes to the model WHS Regulations to implement the ban. They agreed it would cover engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs.
Ministers also agreed to exclude finished engineered stone products that do not need processing or modification. Examples include jewellery, garden ornaments, sculptures and kitchen sinks.
Under the agreed transitional arrangements, work to supply, install or process engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs between 1 July 2024 and 31 December 2024 would be exempt from the prohibition where it is carried out under, or for the purposes of, a contract entered into on or before 31 December 2023.
Safe Work Australia has updated its engineered stone ban webpage and frequently asked questions. Its update directs readers seeking further information to the meeting communique published by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, or to their local WHS regulator.
How Blue Safe can help: Our free WHS self-check can help you review your broader approach to workplace health and safety and identify areas that may need attention. Take the free WHS self-check