A Melbourne mother who contracted the lung disease silicosis linked to her work in the office of a quarry, is urging our government to follow Australia and ban engineered stone.
Worksafe figures estimate tens of thousands of New Zealand workers could be exposed to the serious disease, caused by the inhalation of crystaline silica dust.
The dust is generated from cutting, grinding, or polishing engineered stone commonly used in kitchen benchtops.
Australia is the first country to ban the importation, use and supply of engineered stone.
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden is consulting now on whether to change the regulations here.
Melbourne mother of two, Joanna McNeill, worked in admin at a quarry.
She was part of the campaign to ban engineered stone in Australia last year, and is in Wellington as a guest of the health and safety organisation for mining/extractive sectors MinEx - which also wants a ban.
She joins Kathryn along with MinEx CEO Wayne Scott.
The crystaline silica dust that causes silicosis is generated from cutting, grinding, or polishing engineered stone commonly used in kitchen benchtops. Photo: 123rf
