Audits are back on the table

INSPECTORS from Workplace Health and Safety Queensland are finally reauditing the stone benchtop industry.

The Bulletin filed questions as part of its investigation after it learnt the State Government presented a submission last November stating phase 3 of an Office of Industrial Relations audit would happen in May.

In its response this month, the OIR said a “sample” of 140 workplaces would now be checked to ensure they were complying with the Code of Practice 2019.

Under the code, the workplace exposure standard for respirable crystalline silica that must not be exceeded is 0.05 mg/m3 (eight-hour time weighted average). Business owners are responsible for ensuring workers undergo the proper health checks.

But CFMEU boss Royce Kupsch fears that without a “strong cop on the beat”, Gold Coast stonemasons will continue to die from silicosis.

“If workplaces strictly adhere to this then workers won’t be exposed to dangerous levels of silica dust. But without a strong cop on the beat, I’ve got no confidence every workplace or business will adhere to it,” he said.

“Across Queensland there are nearly 150 workplaces that employ anywhere from five to 60 stonemasons and unless the government puts more people on to check each and every one, then there’s no way to ensure everyone is doing the right thing by their staff.”

A submission to the National Dust Disease Taskforce shows that between October 2017 and July 2018 the OIR undertook phase 1 compliance audits on 10 stone benchtop fabrication businesses in southeast Queensland.

It found “widespread noncompliance with WHS laws within the industry”.

Employers and workers had a “poor understanding of the risks of respirable crystalline silica” and that uncontrolled dry-cutting was commonplace up until the past one-five years.

Businesses were also making alterations during installation using dry-cutting methods, and there was a misconception that respiratory protection and health monitoring was not needed during wet processing of engineered stone.

In September 2018, phase 2 audits were conducted at 138 workplaces, providing “stronger evidence of widespread noncompliance”. Dry-cutting was immediately banned in Queensland at this time and nearly 600 statutory notices were issued for respirable crystalline silica related contraventions. This included 57 prohibition notices and 541 improvement notices.

As at October 22, 2019, 17 infringement notices had been issued with fines totalling $58,000.

Mr Kupsch said engineered stone accounted for up to 70 per cent of product manufactured on the Gold Coast, it was preferred by architects and was “cheap and available in any colour”. He said suppliers of engineered stone were adamant the product did not pose any threat to workers if it was handled correctly and they adhered to strict safety protocols.

“The onus is on employers to take responsibility for the health of their workers but in some instances I know people will get the punt if they ask for a health screening for silicosis,” he said.

“I don’t think we’ve seen the true spike in people presenting with silicosis because they don’t want to make contact with their doctor for fear they’ll lose their jobs.”