Why a community is pleading for the urgent removal of this ‘killer’ Bunnings product

In a world that’s always focusing on the next bright and shiny thing, there are certain items that might, at first sight, appear innocent; like those popular engineered stone kitchen benchtops

But, would you believe that these benchtops can be anything but innocent?


Bunnings, the go-to place for pretty much everything under the sun, has fallen under the spotlight due to a range of such high-demand kitchen benchtops.

Unfortunately, they have been connected to a heartbreaking and incurable disease known as silicosis.


shutterstock_2310525437.jpg
Is your home exposed to toxic chemicals found in one of Bunnings’ products? Credit: Shutterstock


A haunting villain lurking in the air we breathe, silicosis is an insidious foe. It's a lung disease caused by inhaling too many tiny particles of silica dust.

This can lead to severe lung damage and even a diagnosis of lung cancer in the long run.


Aussie tradies, with their knack for making things work and adding a dash of charm to the construction world, are falling prey to this disease as these engineered benchtops become more common.

A grim prediction by Curtin University states that up to 103,000 tradies could be diagnosed with silicosis and over 10,000 might develop lung cancer. This was based on their exposure to silica dust at work.

The national construction union, keeping our tradies and their well-being at heart, have taken their pleas directly to the chief executive of Bunnings, Michael Schneider.

They've said that it’s simply ‘unconscionable’ to maintain engineered stone benchtops on Bunnings' inventory.

'If you were to remove this killer product from your shelves, it would send a powerful message,' CFMEU boss Zach Smith passionately wrote in an open letter to Schneider.

‘I am disappointed that, despite all this information being in the public sphere, Bunnings is still advertising and selling high-silica engineered stone products in your stores nationwide,’ he said.

In the video below, Smith also shared his stance in an interview on Sky News Australia:



It’s worth noting that these engineered benchtops aren’t just a time bomb for our tradies, but also for DIY enthusiasts who can easily encounter this product during home renovations—a core group of Bunnings' customer base.

Mr Smith didn’t mince his words when he called for the benchtops to be removed ‘effective immediately’.


358608417_1677991519348415_1496148119809303249_n.jpg
Zach Smith urged Bunnings to recall their engineered stone bench tops. Credit: Facebook


'Conversely, it is unconscionable for Bunnings to continue promoting and selling this killer product when there is no need to do so,’ he points out.

‘There are many, many alternatives to engineered stone as a benchtop material. The business costs of removing these products are insignificant when we are faced with the prospect of more deaths.’


We’re fortunate to live in a time where numerous alternatives to engineered stone for a benchtop material are readily available.

Responding to this dire predicament, Bunnings’ director of merchandise, Jen Tucker, confirmed that Bunnings is aware of the concern.


shutterstock_2262617289.jpg
Silicosis is a lung disease caused by inhaling too many tiny particles of silica dust. Credit: Shutterstock


She intends to 'monitor and follow advice from the regulatory authorities’.

‘Most of the benchtops we sell in store are laminate or timber however, the engineered stone benchtops we provide are pre-cut to size before they arrive at a customer’s site and are supplied and installed by a specialist provider that holds an engineered stone licence and applies strict safety standards to protect production and installation teams in line with the requirements of their licence,’ she said.


Moreover, Ms Tucker, without directly supporting Mr Smith's plea, said, ‘[The] safety of our team and customers is something we take really seriously.’

She also states that Bunnings is supportive of new legislation and consistent safety standards across all states and territories.

Certainly adds a whole other layer to our home renovation decision-making, doesn't it?

It leaves us all wondering, will this 'killer' Bunnings product be making an exit from shelves soon?

This news serves as a reminder to think twice before leaning towards any engineered stone kitchen benchtops without delving a little deeper into the potential health risks.

Key Takeaways

  • The national construction union urges Bunnings to stop selling a range of engineered stone benchtops linked to a deadly and incurable disease named silicosis, prevalent among tradies.
  • The engineered benchtops, a popular feature in many Australian kitchens and bathrooms, contain a high concentration of crystalline silica. Inhaling the dust from cutting these benchtops can lead to silicosis and lung cancer.
  • The CFMEU insists on the product being removed 'effective immediately' due to the health risks, particularly as cutting of these stone benchtops often occurs during home renovations.
  • Bunnings stated that while they do sell these benchtops, they are pre-cut and installed by a specialist licensed provider and follow strict safety standards.
  • Bunnings also emphasised that they are monitoring the situation and are supportive of newly introduced legislation and consistent safety standards across states.

What are your thoughts on Bunnings’ controversial stone benchtops? Do you agree that their stone benchtops should be pulled out of their inventory? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
 

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So Ms Tucker states ‘[The] safety of our team and customers is something we take really seriously.’

That implies that her workers are more important than the customer. Typical corporate response.
 
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Are Bunnings the only supplier of this type of bench tops,??,. Bunnings bashing seems to becoming a habit.
This problem has been ongoing and well known for quite a while now.
It is not the only type of product that can cause lung diseases and any tradies with any brains uses appropriate gear when cutting such products.
Bunnings, as stated, have these products cut to size, off site. All kitchen installers would be well aware of this problem
We installed many, many kitchens over the years, always had benchtops cut to size before delivery.
Not something a DIYer should be doing.
 
In a world that’s always focusing on the next bright and shiny thing, there are certain items that might, at first sight, appear innocent; like those popular engineered stone kitchen benchtops

But, would you believe that these benchtops can be anything but innocent?


Bunnings, the go-to place for pretty much everything under the sun, has fallen under the spotlight due to a range of such high-demand kitchen benchtops.

Unfortunately, they have been connected to a heartbreaking and incurable disease known as Silicosis.


View attachment 30270
Is your home exposed to toxic chemicals found in one of Bunnings’ products? Credit: Shutterstock


A haunting villain lurking in the air we breathe, Silicosis is an insidious foe. It's a lung disease caused by inhaling too many tiny particles of silica dust.

This can lead to severe lung damage and even a diagnosis of lung cancer in the long run.


Aussie tradies, with their knack for making things work and adding a dash of charm to the construction world, are falling prey to this disease as these engineered benchtops become more common.

A grim prediction by Curtin University states that up to 103,000 tradies could be diagnosed with Silicosis and over 10,000 might develop lung cancer. This was based on their exposure to silica dust at work.

The national construction union, keeping our tradies and their well-being at heart, have taken their pleas directly to the chief executive of Bunnings, Michael Schneider.

They've said that it’s simply ‘unconscionable’ to maintain engineered stone benchtops on Bunnings' inventory.

'If you were to remove this killer product from your shelves, it would send a powerful message,' CFMEU boss Zach Smith passionately wrote in an open letter to Schneider.

‘I am disappointed that, despite all this information being in the public sphere, Bunnings is still advertising and selling high-silica engineered stone products in your stores nationwide,’ he said.

In the video below, Smith also shared his stance in an interview on Sky News Australia:



It’s worth noting that these engineered benchtops aren’t just a time bomb for our tradies, but also for DIY enthusiasts who can easily encounter this product during home renovations—a core group of Bunnings' customer base.

Mr Smith didn’t mince his words when he called for the benchtops to be removed ‘effective immediately’.


View attachment 30268
Zach Smith urged Bunnings to recall their engineered stone bench tops. Credit: Facebook


'Conversely, it is unconscionable for Bunnings to continue promoting and selling this killer product when there is no need to do so,’ he points out.

‘There are many, many alternatives to engineered stone as a benchtop material. The business costs of removing these products are insignificant when we are faced with the prospect of more deaths.’


We’re fortunate to live in a time where numerous alternatives to engineered stone for a benchtop material are readily available.

Responding to this dire predicament, Bunnings’ director of merchandise, Jen Tucker, confirmed that Bunnings is aware of the concern.


View attachment 30271
Silicosis is a lung disease caused by inhaling too many tiny particles of silica dust. Credit: Shutterstock


She intends to 'monitor and follow advice from the regulatory authorities’.

‘Most of the benchtops we sell in store are laminate or timber however, the engineered stone benchtops we provide are pre-cut to size before they arrive at a customer’s site and are supplied and installed by a specialist provider that holds an engineered stone licence and applies strict safety standards to protect production and installation teams in line with the requirements of their licence,’ she said.


Moreover, Ms Tucker, without directly supporting Mr Smith's plea, said, ‘[The] safety of our team and customers is something we take really seriously.’

She also states that Bunnings is supportive of new legislation and consistent safety standards across all states and territories.

Certainly adds a whole other layer to our home renovation decision-making, doesn't it?

It leaves us all wondering, will this 'killer' Bunnings product be making an exit from shelves soon?

This news serves as a reminder to think twice before leaning towards any engineered stone kitchen benchtops without delving a little deeper into the potential health risks.

Key Takeaways

  • The national construction union urges Bunnings to stop selling a range of engineered stone benchtops linked to a deadly and incurable disease named Silicosis, prevalent among tradies.
  • The engineered benchtops, a popular feature in many Australian kitchens and bathrooms, contain a high concentration of crystalline silica. Inhaling the dust from cutting these benchtops can lead to Silicosis and lung cancer.
  • The CFMEU insists on the product being removed 'effective immediately' due to the health risks, particularly as cutting of these stone benchtops often occurs during home renovations.
  • Bunnings stated that while they do sell these benchtops, they are pre-cut and installed by a specialist licensed provider and follow strict safety standards.
  • Bunnings also emphasised that they are monitoring the situation and are supportive of newly introduced legislation and consistent safety standards across states.

What are your thoughts on Bunnings’ controversial stone benchtops? Do you agree that their stone benchtops should be pulled out of their inventory? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Years ago and still present today asbestos products are hiding in buildings today, silica is a new product that has taken over the media now its a product that renovates and trade's people need to be educated about like asbestos it'll be right until 15 to 30 year's later the get lung cancers etc education is viral on these products as an ex asbestos remover I've seen friends die from asbestos related diseases now silica products are the new kid on the block. And the block is a bullshit Reno show that never have shown 🙄 how renovation can cause injury and possible death 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
 
I was in contact with silica for over 15 years working in the chemical industry. Namely Ultrasil VN3 and Degussa Silteg AS7. No problems!

The main concern is the particle size of the dust when cutting and boring. There is a small window for particle size to cause any respiratory distress other then coughing. I don't know if the benchtop industry employs water cooled cutting and drilling practices but that would be a step in reducing dust generation.
 
Last edited:
Years ago and still present today asbestos products are hiding in buildings today, silica is a new product that has taken over the media now its a product that renovates and trade's people need to be educated about like asbestos it'll be right until 15 to 30 year's later the get lung cancers etc education is viral on these products as an ex asbestos remover I've seen friends die from asbestos related diseases now silica products are the new kid on the block. And the block is a bullshit Reno show that never have shown 🙄 how renovation can cause injury and possible death 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
Totally agree, most people watch these shows and think "oh I could do that". Most end up stuffing it up and having to call in the professionals to fix it up, costing more than the original job would have cost.
Believe me, the one thing we in the trade hate the most is having to fix up someone else's mess up.
The show The Block, is mostly based on interior design, the bulk of construction work being done by tradies. The same with most ",flip"
shows, you see the people the show is based around putting a bit of glue on the shower wall and in comes the tiler, wave a paint brush around for a few minutes then in comes the painters. Trying to flip a house without any experience is not a smart idea, as many have found to their detriment. I've lost count of how many houses my husband and I flipped which had been started by people thinking they were going to make a fortune and actually ended up abandoning the project and loosing money.
 
Totally agree, most people watch these shows and think "oh I could do that". Most end up stuffing it up and having to call in the professionals to fix it up, costing more than the original job would have cost.
Believe me, the one thing we in the trade hate the most is having to fix up someone else's mess up.
The show The Block, is mostly based on interior design, the bulk of construction work being done by tradies. The same with most ",flip"
shows, you see the people the show is based around putting a bit of glue on the shower wall and in comes the tiler, wave a paint brush around for a few minutes then in comes the painters. Trying to flip a house without any experience is not a smart idea, as many have found to their detriment. I've lost count of how many houses my husband and I flipped which had been started by people thinking they were going to make a fortune and actually ended up abandoning the project and loosing money.
How many old buggers like ourselves have fallen off ladders and ended up dead or with life changing injuries?
 
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Reactions: Rhondda@Benji
How many old buggers like ourselves have fallen off ladders and ended up dead or with life changing injuries?
Exactly, was up a ladder once, wiping down walls behind my husband who was putting up cornices on a 12 ft high ceiling when the ladder slipped, down I came, the bucket of water fell on my head, drenched me. Luckily it was mainly my pride that was hurt lol.😂
 
Exactly, was up a ladder once, wiping down walls behind my husband who was putting up cornices on a 12 ft high ceiling when the ladder slipped, down I came, the bucket of water fell on my head, drenched me. Luckily it was mainly my pride that was hurt lol.😂
At least you had a shower. albeit an unexpected one!
 
Totally agree, most people watch these shows and think "oh I could do that". Most end up stuffing it up and having to call in the professionals to fix it up, costing more than the original job would have cost.
Believe me, the one thing we in the trade hate the most is having to fix up someone else's mess up.
The show The Block, is mostly based on interior design, the bulk of construction work being done by tradies. The same with most ",flip"
shows, you see the people the show is based around putting a bit of glue on the shower wall and in comes the tiler, wave a paint brush around for a few minutes then in comes the painters. Trying to flip a house without any experience is not a smart idea, as many have found to their detriment. I've lost count of how many houses my husband and I flipped which had been started by people thinking they were going to make a fortune and actually ended up abandoning the project and loosing money.
Doing your own renovations is perfectly okay provided you know your skills and limitations.

My partner and I renovated a unit last year, we did the painting, installed an IKEA kitchen and installed the flooring ourselves, but we engaged a plumber, electrician and tiler for the jobs that needed specific qualifications.
 
I was in contact with silica for over 15 years working in the chemical industry. Namely Ultrasil VN3 and Degussa Silteg AS7. No problems!

The main concern is the particle size of the dust when cutting and boring. There is a small window for particle size to cause any respiratory distress other then coughing. I don't know if the benchtop industry employs water cooled cutting and drilling practices but that would be a step in reducing dust generation.
I assume working with it you would also wear a dust mask that is specific to silica dust
 
In a world that’s always focusing on the next bright and shiny thing, there are certain items that might, at first sight, appear innocent; like those popular engineered stone kitchen benchtops

But, would you believe that these benchtops can be anything but innocent?


Bunnings, the go-to place for pretty much everything under the sun, has fallen under the spotlight due to a range of such high-demand kitchen benchtops.

Unfortunately, they have been connected to a heartbreaking and incurable disease known as silicosis.


View attachment 30270
Is your home exposed to toxic chemicals found in one of Bunnings’ products? Credit: Shutterstock


A haunting villain lurking in the air we breathe, silicosis is an insidious foe. It's a lung disease caused by inhaling too many tiny particles of silica dust.

This can lead to severe lung damage and even a diagnosis of lung cancer in the long run.


Aussie tradies, with their knack for making things work and adding a dash of charm to the construction world, are falling prey to this disease as these engineered benchtops become more common.

A grim prediction by Curtin University states that up to 103,000 tradies could be diagnosed with silicosis and over 10,000 might develop lung cancer. This was based on their exposure to silica dust at work.

The national construction union, keeping our tradies and their well-being at heart, have taken their pleas directly to the chief executive of Bunnings, Michael Schneider.

They've said that it’s simply ‘unconscionable’ to maintain engineered stone benchtops on Bunnings' inventory.

'If you were to remove this killer product from your shelves, it would send a powerful message,' CFMEU boss Zach Smith passionately wrote in an open letter to Schneider.

‘I am disappointed that, despite all this information being in the public sphere, Bunnings is still advertising and selling high-silica engineered stone products in your stores nationwide,’ he said.

In the video below, Smith also shared his stance in an interview on Sky News Australia:



It’s worth noting that these engineered benchtops aren’t just a time bomb for our tradies, but also for DIY enthusiasts who can easily encounter this product during home renovations—a core group of Bunnings' customer base.

Mr Smith didn’t mince his words when he called for the benchtops to be removed ‘effective immediately’.


View attachment 30268
Zach Smith urged Bunnings to recall their engineered stone bench tops. Credit: Facebook


'Conversely, it is unconscionable for Bunnings to continue promoting and selling this killer product when there is no need to do so,’ he points out.

‘There are many, many alternatives to engineered stone as a benchtop material. The business costs of removing these products are insignificant when we are faced with the prospect of more deaths.’


We’re fortunate to live in a time where numerous alternatives to engineered stone for a benchtop material are readily available.

Responding to this dire predicament, Bunnings’ director of merchandise, Jen Tucker, confirmed that Bunnings is aware of the concern.


View attachment 30271
Silicosis is a lung disease caused by inhaling too many tiny particles of silica dust. Credit: Shutterstock


She intends to 'monitor and follow advice from the regulatory authorities’.

‘Most of the benchtops we sell in store are laminate or timber however, the engineered stone benchtops we provide are pre-cut to size before they arrive at a customer’s site and are supplied and installed by a specialist provider that holds an engineered stone licence and applies strict safety standards to protect production and installation teams in line with the requirements of their licence,’ she said.


Moreover, Ms Tucker, without directly supporting Mr Smith's plea, said, ‘[The] safety of our team and customers is something we take really seriously.’

She also states that Bunnings is supportive of new legislation and consistent safety standards across all states and territories.

Certainly adds a whole other layer to our home renovation decision-making, doesn't it?

It leaves us all wondering, will this 'killer' Bunnings product be making an exit from shelves soon?

This news serves as a reminder to think twice before leaning towards any engineered stone kitchen benchtops without delving a little deeper into the potential health risks.

Key Takeaways

  • The national construction union urges Bunnings to stop selling a range of engineered stone benchtops linked to a deadly and incurable disease named silicosis, prevalent among tradies.
  • The engineered benchtops, a popular feature in many Australian kitchens and bathrooms, contain a high concentration of crystalline silica. Inhaling the dust from cutting these benchtops can lead to silicosis and lung cancer.
  • The CFMEU insists on the product being removed 'effective immediately' due to the health risks, particularly as cutting of these stone benchtops often occurs during home renovations.
  • Bunnings stated that while they do sell these benchtops, they are pre-cut and installed by a specialist licensed provider and follow strict safety standards.
  • Bunnings also emphasised that they are monitoring the situation and are supportive of newly introduced legislation and consistent safety standards across states.

What are your thoughts on Bunnings’ controversial stone benchtops? Do you agree that their stone benchtops should be pulled out of their inventory? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

recently renovated and all is formica look alike granite. do not worry about climate warming etc this planet is having a struggle with greed and idiots.
 
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Targetting Bunnings seems unfair. There are many other places that sell the engineered stone benchtops.
I think the problem should be "nipped in the bud" or "at the source". When making these products due care should be taken with breather masks. I'm sure that those in the know already use these precautions.
Many products can be deemed dangerous. Do we take everything off the market?
 
Targetting Bunnings seems unfair. There are many other places that sell the engineered stone benchtops.
I think the problem should be "nipped in the bud" or "at the source". When making these products due care should be taken with breather masks. I'm sure that those in the know already use these precautions.
Many products can be deemed dangerous. Do we take everything off the market?
Mitre 10 are selling Greenleaf 400 mm machetes for $12.99. Bunnings do not. Seems to be the weapon of choice these days for wannabes.
 
Anything these 'MEGA' stores do needs to be highly scrutinised. Look what the supermarkets did to the traditional corner shop.
 

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