1 . Introduction
Working with engineered stone can expose workers , and other persons , to the risks of respirable crystalline silica ( silica dust ). Exposure to silica dust can have serious health effects , including fatal lung disease .
For the purpose of this Code , engineered stone 1 is an artificial product that :
a ) is created by combining and heat curing natural stone materials that contain crystalline silica ( such as quartz or stone aggregate ) with chemical constituents ( such as water , resins or pigments ), and b ) can be manipulated through mechanical processes to manufacture other products ( such as kitchen benchtops ).
Engineered stone does not include natural stone that has not been combined with other products or heat cured ( for example granite and quartz in their natural state ).
Engineered stone is also known as composite stone , manufactured stone , artificial stone , reconstituted stone or quartz conglomerate . The crystalline silica content in engineered stone varies widely but it can contain greater than 90 per cent crystalline silica , which is significantly greater than that found in natural stones .
Table 1 outlines the variation in silica content that can exist in different types of stone .
Table 1 : Types of stone and the approximate amount of silica they contain .
Type Amount of silica (%) Marble 2 Limestone 2 Slate 20 to 40 Shale 22 Granite 20 to 45 ( typically 30 ) Natural sandstone 70 to 95 Engineered stone up to 97
For the purposes of this Code , the term engineered stone covers the entire product lifecycle , including :
− design and manufacture − supply to a workplace for fabrication − fabrication − installation , and − post-installation ( maintenance , remodelling and removal ). 1
Engineered stone does not include concrete , concrete products , cement products , fibre cement , bricks , blocks , pavers , autoclaved aerated concrete , roof tiles , wall and floor tiles that are ceramic or porcelain , grout , mortar , render and plasterboard .
Managing the risks of respirable crystalline silica from engineered stone in the workplace - Code of Practice 6 of 57