Australia is considering banning engineered stone because cutting and grinding it kills workers -- most of them young -- at such an alarming rate. Most workplaces where the stone is cut don't give their workers adequate safety protections, if any, whereby micro-particles enter lungs and cause silicosis, a disease for which there is no treatment or cure.

There has been almost no consumer awareness of the issue or public health concern. Many of the low-paid grinders and cutters have few rights. If you are purchasing engineered stone countertops you can ask fabricators what safety measures they employ and refuse to deal with fabricators who don't give you acceptable answers.

The L.A. Times published this report today

https://enewspaper.latimes.com/infinity/article_share.aspx?guid=7008c03e-00b3-4e9e-bd7d-6b193dbcfc86