Network Meeting – Risks Associated with the Use of Engineered Stone & Its Impacts

PRESENTER -  Kim Smith, APAC EHS Manager, Caesarstone Australia

 Topic:       Risks Associated with the Use of Engineered Stone & Its Impacts

In December 2023, Australia's WHS Ministers unanimously agreed to prohibit the use, manufacture and supply of engineered stone. The Ministers accepted Safe Work Australia's recommendation to apply a blanket ban to engineered stone based on its finding that there is no scientific evidence that partial bans or any other measures can reduce the risk of silicosis in workers who cut, grind or polish engineered stone products like kitchen benchtops, and that engineered stone workers are dramatically over-represented amongst workers diagnosed with silicosis.

As a representative of the industry, Kim will discuss what are the known risks around the use of engineered stone, discuss the available scientific knowledge on its impacts, and where the industry might be heading.

About your Presenter

Kim has been a health and safety professional for almost 23 years working across multiple industries. Over the last 15 years Kim has served as the

• National Safety Manager for Otis Elevators where her role led to travelling and working in the USA training lift technicians in safe access and egress from lift shafts.
• National Safety Manager for O’Brien Glass where she helped trained NSW forensic team on the characteristics of glass when broken in relation to household break and enters.
• Currently performs in the role of EHS Manager (APAC) for Caesarstone and has led industry critical initiatives on silicosis awareness. Kim represented the Australian manufacturer and supply chain on the National Silicosis Prevention Committee, the Worldwide Agglomerated Stone Manufacturers Association (A.St.A) and more recently participated in UNSW Research study on Silicosis amongst CALD workers.