Tougher rules for working with engineered stone

Tougher rules around the use of engineered stone will be imposed in South Australia amid an ongoing national inquiry into a potential ban on the products.

The changes come as the federal government also allocated $3 million on Tuesday to train health professionals to better support workers affected by silicosis and other dust diseases.

Under SA's new regulations, it will be an offence to direct or allow a worker to process engineered stone without specific control measures in place to minimise silica dust inhalation.

All workers involved in cutting, grinding, trimming, sanding, or drilling engineered stone products must be provided with respiratory protective equipment, and use a dust control system such as a water suppressant or exhaust ventilation.

Maximum fines for breaching the regulations, which come into force in September, have been set at $6000 for individuals or $30,000 for corporations.

Attorney-General Kyam Maher said silicosis was a rapidly growing problem across Australia.

"These new regulations are an immediate step to protect the health and safety of workers, ahead of the national meeting of work health and safety ministers later this year which will consider further regulatory action," he said.

Safe Work Australia is looking into a potential ban of engineered stone, examining what types of silica products would be covered and how the prohibition would be enforced.

Mr Maher said he looked forward to the results of that investigation but warned SA was prepared to go it alone on a complete ban if no decisive national action was taken.

With its Prioritising Improved Care for People with Dust-Related Diseases grants program the federal government hoped to improve the medical approach to silicosis by building the capability of doctors, radiologists, and multi-disciplinary teams.

It said the grants were part of a national approach to the prevention, early identification, control and management of dust diseases.

That also included establishing a national respiratory disease registry to help detect new and emerging health threats and support research, intervention and prevention strategies.

Assistant health minister minister Ged Kearney said silicosis was an incurable illness that could have a devastating impact on workers and their families.

"We are making these critical investments to ensure appropriate treatments and care are available once a diagnosis is made, at a time when people need it the most," she said.

An estimated 600,000 workers have been exposed to silica dust generated through mining, construction, building, and manufacturing.

A Curtin University study put the total number of people likely to be diagnosed with silicosis at more than 100,000 and estimated 10,000 would develop lung cancer from dust exposure.

Engineered stone - used mainly for kitchen benchtops - is a particularly potent source of silica dust.

But the dust is also found in many building and construction products including sand, soil, stone, concrete and mortar, and is used in the manufacture of bricks, tiles and glass.