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Work with engineered stone and materials containing crystalline silica
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Current risk requirements
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Building and construction consultations
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Work with engineered stone and materials containing crystalline silica
- Minister's foreword
- Executive summary
- Introduction
- Current risk requirements
- Problem definition
- Options for working with engineered stone and materials containing crystalline silica
- Closing remarks
- Summary of all consultation questions
- Glossary
- Annex I: Silicosis and engineered stone background
- Annex II: Overview of the health and safety regulatory regime
- Annex III: Revised Workplace Exposure Standard
- Annex IV: Further information on the status quo
- Annex V: Australia’s amendments to its regulatory settings in response to the risks posed by RCS
- Making it easier to build granny flats (2024)
- Building Code fire safety review discussion document
- Review of the building consent system (snapshot)
- Proposed amendments to the BuiltReady Scheme Rules public consultation
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Building consent system review: Options paper summary of submissions
- Introduction
- Key themes from submissions
- Promoting competition in the building regulatory system
- Removing impediments to product substitution and variation
- Strengthening roles and responsibilities
- New assurance pathways
- More efficient and streamlined delivery of building consent services
- Better performance monitoring and system stewardship
- Better responding to the needs and aspirations of Māori
- Addressing the interface between the building and resource consent system
- Submitter details
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Improving efficiency in the inspection process: Discussion document
- Use of information
- Minister's foreword
- Introduction
- Increasing the uptake of remote inspections
- Section one: Options to increase the uptake of remote inspections and improve efficiency of inspection processes
- Section two: Increasing inspection capacity through the use of Accredited Organisations (Building)
- Appendix one: Full list of consultation questions
- Appendix two: Summary of options for feedback
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Consultation document: Insulation requirements in housing and other buildings
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Insulation in housing and small buildings
- 3. Insulation in large buildings
- Appendix A: Proposed changes to Acceptable Solution H1/AS1 Energy Efficiency for all housing, and bu
- Appendix B: Proposed changes to Verification Method H1/VM1 Energy Efficiency for all housing, and buildings up to 300m squared
- Appendix C: Proposed changes to Acceptable Solution H1/AS2 Energy Efficiency for buildings greater than 300m squared
- Appendix D: Proposed changes to Verification Method H1/VM2 Energy Efficiency for buildings greater than 300m squared
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Work with engineered stone and materials containing crystalline silica
Current risk requirements
New Zealand’s current requirements are based on the general duties of the Health and Safety at Work Act
On this page
Current measures taken by the regulator (WorkSafe) and industries that work with materials containing crystalline silica are premised on the existence of the general duties on businesses and workers under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSW Act).[1] These duties require Persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) to eliminate, or use controls to minimise, worker exposure to risks, including from RCS.[2]
PCBUs must complete a risk assessment and review controls before starting work using engineered stone, and:
- eliminate risks that arise from its work so far as is reasonably practicable, or
- minimise risks so far as is reasonably practicable.
In most instances when working with sources of RCS (including engineered stone), this will mean making use of wet-working control measures, dust control measures, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).[3]
Several initiatives have been established to encourage businesses to improve their risk management practices.
- WorkSafe has:
- conducted inspections in workplaces fabricating engineered stone since 2019
- published information for businesses and workers on RCS and silicosis, and
- reduced the workplace exposure standard for RCS in 2019 and again in 2023.[4]
- The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), Ministry of Health, and WorkSafe have established the Accelerated Silicosis Assessment Pathway (ASAP) to enable eligible workers to have their health checked.
- The New Zealand Engineered Stone Advisory Group (NZESAG) has developed and implemented a voluntary industry accreditation scheme for engineered stone businesses, with support from ACC.[5]
Footnotes
[1] See Annex II for an overview of the Health and Safety regulatory regime.
[2] See: https://www.worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/dust/silica-dust-in-the-workplace/
[3] From WorkSafe’s Quick Guide on Silica dust in the workplace, November 2019.
[4] See Annex III for more on the workplace exposure standard.
[5] See Annex IV for more on NZESAG’s accreditation programme.