Push to ban the popular kitchen benchtops killing Australians

There are growing calls to ban popular kitchen benchtops which are killing Australians.

A growing number of stonemasons are suing their employers for failing to provide safe working environments after they contracted silicosis while working on engineered stone benchtops. The Age reports that more than 70 cases of silicosis have been filed in Victoria and Queensland in the past three years.

Silicosis is an incurable, debilitating and sometimes fatal lung disease caused by inhaling tiny particles of crystalline silica dust.

Press PLAY below to hear what the ACTU wants to see happen

Assistant secretary at the Australian Council of Trade Unions, Liam O’Brien, says Australians have “grown pretty fond of” engineered stone benchtops, but there are alternatives which are much lower risk.

“The most effective thing will be to remove the high risk silica content. Ban them,” he told Ross and Russel.