Background
Acknowledgements
Background
On 28 February 2023 , Work Health and Safety ( WHS ) ministers considered the recommendations of the Decision Regulation Impact Statement : Managing the risks of respirable crystalline silica ( RCS ) at work ( Silica Decision RIS ) and agreed that the Safe Work Australia Agency ( the Agency ) undertake further analysis and consultation on the impacts of a prohibition on the use of engineered stone under the model WHS laws ( DEWR 2023 ). Ministers noted this should include :
� � consideration of silica content levels and other risk factors a national licensing system for work with products that are not subject to a ban , and � a national licensing system for work with legacy products .
This Decision Regulation Impact Statement ( Decision RIS ) provides the analysis of the regulatory impacts of options under the model WHS laws to prohibit the use of engineered stone . It builds on the evidence and analysis considered by WHS ministers and should be read in conjunction with the Silica Decision RIS .
A prohibition on the import of engineered stone is outside the scope of this Decisions RIS as this is a matter for the Commonwealth . The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations is considering the prohibition on import of engineered stone ( DEWR 2023 ).
This Decision RIS is informed by stakeholder feedback on a consultation paper released by the Agency in March 2023 . It also draws on the Safe Work Australia Members ’ ( Members ) workshop in April 2023 , an independent expert review of scientific evidence regarding the risk profile of working with engineered stone undertaken by the University of Adelaide , and an economic impact analysis undertaken by independent consultants , Ernst & Young Pty Ltd ( EY ).
This Decision RIS has been prepared in accordance with the Regulatory Impact Analysis Guide for Ministers ’ Meeting and National Standard Setting Bodies , as updated in June 2023 ( the Guide ). The Office of Impact Analysis ( OIA ) has confirmed this Decision RIS meets the requirements set out in the Guide .
Acknowledgements
The Agency thanks all stakeholders who participated in the consultation process , in particular the important contributions of our Members , stone benchtop industry businesses , unions , and peak health bodies .
The Agency engaged the University of Adelaide and Monash University to review the available evidence on the risk profile of engineered stone and thanks the Universities for that work .
The Agency also engaged EY to support development of this Regulation Impact Statement . The Agency thanks EY for undertaking the impact analysis . This impact analysis was undertaken in May and June 2023 , with parameter assumptions current at June 2023 .
DECISION REGULATION IMPACT STATEMENT Prohibition on the use of engineered stone Page 5 of 107