Health & Safety: Safe Installation Starts With Safer Materials
At Earthstone, we understand that the stone you choose to fabricate and install has a direct impact on the safety of your team and your workplace. As the industry continues to evolve, our responsibility is clear – provide the market with materials that meet the highest standards of performance and the strictest standards of health and safety compliance.
With the introduction of new regulations and the ban on engineered stone containing crystalline silica, Earthstone is committed to supplying next-generation, zero-crystalline silica surfaces that support safer workshops and safer on-site installation practices.
Are Earthstone Surfaces Safe for End Users?
Yes – Earthstone surfaces are completely safe once installed.
Our materials are non-porous, stable, and fully compliant with local and international standards.
The potential health risks associated with crystalline silica relate to fabrication, not to finished, installed surfaces. When handled according to industry regulations, Earthstone surfaces pose no risk to homeowners or end-users.
During standard installation or repair, only a negligible amount of dust is produced, and this is not sufficient to pose any health threat such as silicosis, which is linked to long-term occupational exposure – not consumer exposure.
What Are Earthstone Surfaces Made Of?
Earthstone’s new-generation engineered surfaces are manufactured using:
- Recycled glass aggregates
- High-performance polymer resins
- Premium pigments
Our updated range contains zero crystalline silica, supporting a safer fabrication environment while delivering the appearance, quality and durability that the trade expects.
At only 8mm in thickness, Earthstone slabs also require significantly less cutting volume than traditional 20mm-30mm products – meaning less dust, less wear on equipment, and more efficient handling.
Understanding Silica and Quartz (Industry Overview)
Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals on earth and appears in natural stone such as granite, sandstone, and marble. These materials typically contain varying amounts of crystalline silica – a compound found widely across construction materials including bricks, concrete, tiles, glass, ceramics and engineered stone.
While crystalline silica is common, the risk arises during mechanical processing (cutting, grinding, polishing) when the dust becomes respirable. This risk is not inherent to the finished product but to workshop exposure during fabrication.
Earthstone’s new silica-free formulation removes this material from the process entirely, reducing the hazard at its source.
What is Silicosis?
Silicosis is a preventable occupational lung disease caused by long-term exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS). It occurs when microscopic silica particles enter the lungs, causing inflammation and scarring that can impair breathing.
It is associated with industries where airborne dust is created without proper safety controls, including mining, construction, concrete work, and historically, engineered stone fabrication.
With correct safety practices, silicosis and other RCS-related illnesses are 100% preventable.
Earthstone’s Approach to Safe Fabrication
Earthstone has always championed best-practice fabrication standards, and this commitment continues with our silica-free product line.
Our surfaces support safer working conditions by:
- Eliminating crystalline silica from the formulation
- Reducing dust volume through ultra-thin 8mm slabs
- Being fully compatible with H-Class extraction systems
- Requiring standard PPE and dust-management practices
- Aligning with regulatory changes across Australia and international markets
Our partner workshops conduct routine air-quality testing, consistently reporting results well below workplace exposure limits.
This commitment to monitoring and compliance reflects Earthstone’s focus on long-term safety for the trade.
Why Trade Partners Choose Earthstone
- 100% zero-crystalline silica surfaces
- Reduced dust load during processing
- Lightweight, easy-to-handle slabs
- Consistent, high-performance material
- Supported by comprehensive technical documentation
- Manufactured with a safety-first mindset for the modern fabrication environment
Earthstone is proud to work alongside fabricators, stonemasons and trade partners who prioritise safety, quality, and compliance. As the industry moves into a new era, we remain focused on supplying products that protect your team while supporting excellent installation outcomes.
If you require SDS documents, technical specifications, or fabrication guidance, our team is ready to assist.
