Talostone® Silicosis statement

Talostone® Silicosis statement

BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE
FUTURE FOR THE STONE INDUSTRY

At Talostone®, we have are 100% committed to a safe working environment for all stakeholders in the industry and it has been our number one priority since we first opened our doors in Sydney in 2013.

As a leading player in the industry, Talostone® have always taken worker safety very seriously by implementing sound Company protocols such as only recommending Stonemasons who adhere to the strict fabrication practices set forth by SafeWork Australia, attaching large health and safety warning stickers on all our products and providing easy access to our detailed Fabrication, Health and Safety Guide via our website, which provides detailed safe fabrication advise. We also invest extensive amounts of time and funds constantly researching and implementing safer stone products such as our low Crystalline Silica range, MinQ®, which was implemented long before any Government restrictions.

Following the advise from SafeWork Australia, as well as our own recommendations and guidelines, engineered stone can be fabricated safely by industry workers. Unfortunately, even with stricter Government implementations such as as Engineered Stone Licensing and compliance inspections by SafeWork Australia, it is clear that some workplaces in Australia has failed to adhere to these legally standing standards and regulations. As a result of this, the Australian Government made the difficult decision in December 2023 to ban any engineered stone containing 1% or more Crystalline Silica (trace elements), in an attempt to increase the health and safety of industry workers.

Being at the forefront of research and development, Talostone® had already started developing our Crystalline Silica free range, MinQ® Zero – Mineral Surfaces, years before the ban, which has been progressively rolled out throughout 2024. Our entire MinQ® Zero – Mineral Surfaces range is now available, replacing all previous generations of Talostone® products. This achievement however, is not the end of our commitment to innovative advancements in the stone industry. We are constantly making significant advances in developing even stronger and safer stone options that benefit our customers as well as industry workers.

We would also like to take this opportunity to assure our customers that all existing and installed Talostone® products are completely safe and pose no health risks. Any Crystalline Silica contained within the stone only poses potential health risks during the fabrication process, not pre or post fabrication. Should you have any concerns regarding your existing Talostone® bench tops, please contact our Head Office at any time on 02 8783 0600 or info@talostone.com.au.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Engineered surfaces are an advanced solution for kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, flooring, wall cladding and other internal applications. They are typically manufactured from natural quartz and high‐quality polymer resins and pigments. Quartz surfaces are in use today in millions of homes and businesses around Australia and the rest of the world.

Silica is one of the most common compounds on earth and is composed of two elements: silicon and oxygen (silicon dioxide, SiO2). Silica is found in nature in various forms, mainly as sand, and also in rocks and stones such as marble and granite. Silica is a component of many products in daily use including glass, pottery and quartz surfaces. Silica is very commonly used in construction and features at various concentrations in bricks, blocks, tiles, slabs, cement and concrete.

Engineered stone products such as countertops in kitchens and bathrooms and wall linings have been in high demand for Australian homes, buildings and commercial operations for over 20 years. They provide a very durable, long-lasting and attractive solution for surfaces.
Talostone® and other reputable manufacturers create engineered stone to strict safety standards and the products must comply with Government regulations in all states and territories. Our products are safe in all commercial and domestic settings and we are deeply committed to doing all we can to ensure the fabricators and stonemasons who use our products do so in accordance with the safety regulations which have been in place for many years.
Not at all. These surfaces are safe for consumer use and meet the stringent health and safety regulations of every state and territory in Australia. The health risk lies in the cutting process managed by stonemasons and fabricators if they do not follow regulated installation and safety guidelines. This includes, but is not limited to, wet cutting and the use of effective respiratory protection measures to reduce any risks associated with inhaled crystalline dust.
It is important to point out that crystalline silica dust is found in many products in our day‐to‐day lives such as glass, ceramics, semi‐conductors and much more. Natural quartz contains 90% or more crystalline silica which is present in manufacturing lines as a raw material and in dust derived from the fabrication processes which are required to turn the quartz surfaces into kitchen and bath countertops (cut‐to‐size per installation by independent stonemasons). Silicosis and other respiratory diseases are caused by prolonged occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica during the fabrication of products containing crystalline silica. However, fabricators can avoid being exposed to the dust by following government mandated safety procedures. Safety is a top priority for Talostone® and we provide comprehensive health and safety guidelines to all those who purchase our products.
Both artificial and natural cut stone produce crystalline silica dust and fabricators and stonemasons work with many raw products that produce crystalline silica dust during cutting and polishing. Stonemasons can avoid the risks of silicosis by following the recommended safety procedures and guidelines.
The Talostone® Fabrication & Installation, Safety & Health Protection Guide for cutting and installing Talostone® is provided to all customers, along with safety warnings clearly displayed on all products. In addition, our products comply with the strictest international and local safety standards mandated in every Australian state or territory.
As these tradespeople are independent contractors, manufacturers such as Talostone® have no direct responsibility for their workplace operations. Workplace safety regulations are the responsibility of Australian governments, but we do all we can to provide instructions and warnings for safe handling and fabrication of products in the interest of the safety and welfare of all fabricators and stone masons.

Talostone® manufactures products to the highest safety standards, Our engineered stone products
are absolutely safe prior to fabrication and after installation. Our employees do not fabricate the products, but do receive comprehensive training on safe
handling and are issued safety equipment for use when entering workplaces where the product is
being cut.

Yes. We continue to fully support the improvements in safety regulations and workplace
inspections and anticipate further steps will be taken by Federal and state governments to reduce
the risk of silicosis across all exposed industries.

We are working on a new full product range with a maximum of 40% or less crystalline silica than
currently available and will be launching this range in coming months.

A small amount of silica dust is sometimes produced during installation or repair of stone surfaces in a consumer’s home. This poses no health threat as silicosis and other diseases caused by crystalline silica dust develop only as a result of ongoing occupational exposure to silica dust and in circumstances where the correct safety procedures are not followed. Silicosis is purely an occupational disease.
No. The installed products are absolutely safe and the only risk is to occupational tradespersons who do not follow the correct safety procedures.
We are aware of this activity and reiterate that exposure to silicosis can be eliminated if the correct safety procedures and guidelines are followed while fabricating engineered stone products. Safety is a top priority for manufacturers and we educate tradespersons and our employees about the safest ways to deal with our products.
All manufacturing processes have risk factors and consequently safety regulations. Banning products does not make sense, particularly when, in our industry for example, there are clear health safety regulations mandated by all governments. Banning our product would cost many jobs throughout the industry and would not solve the silicosis risk across a range of products and industries.
We take advice from workplace experts, such as Safe Work Australia and its equivalent state organisations, which have conducted extensive research and implemented tougher guidelines for the prevention of silicosis in all work environments. As a result, every government in Australia has regulations in place to eliminate or minimise generating silica dust in the workplace. All cases of infection that we are aware of occurred in independent workplaces that did not follow the regulated safety procedures.
No. We understand there are widespread concerns about the silica issue and we are prepared to lower the crystalline silica content without compromising the quality of our products. At the end of the day, health and safety regulations, coupled with enforcement, are the keys to controlling silicosis.

Get in touch with us — Telephone 02 8783 0600 Email info@talostone.com.au

Acknowledgement of Country

Talostone® acknowledges the Gadigal of the Eora nation as the Traditional Custodians of the local area in which the City Experience Centre is located and acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Prestons area, being the Darug and Tharawal Aboriginal people, whose land on which the Head Office is located.
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