Bunnings hit by nationwide protests over ‘killer’ product

Hundreds of union members have turned out in force to call for hardware giant Bunnings to stop selling a ‘killer’ product.

Hundreds of union workers have staged protests outside Bunnings stores across the country to demand the hardware giant stop selling a popular kitchen benchtop that has been linked to an incurable disease.

Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) members gathered in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, ACT, WA and SA on Saturday to urge the company to stop selling engineered stone kitchen bench tops.

Dozens of union members stood outside Bunnings stores, waving placards and handing out pamphlets as part of its Stop This Killer Stone campaign.

The union represents tradespeople, including stone masons, and say they want their members to be protected from the dangers of silicosis.

CFMEU members have taken part in nationwide protests outside Bunnings stores. Picture: Supplied.

The union is demanding the stores stop selling engineered stone kitchen bench tops. Picture: Supplied.

The engineered benchtops, which have become fashionable in Australian kitchens and bathrooms, contain a high concentration of crystalline silica.

Working with engineered stone can expose workers to the risk of potentially deadly silicosis and other related diseases. Silicosis is incurable and is caused by inhaling tiny particles of silica dust.

“Bunnings customers deserve to know it is profiting from killer stone bench tops,” CFMEU national secretary Zach Smith said.

“Our members have today been educating Bunnings customers so as many people as possible have the facts about engineered stone and the alternatives that don’t kill workers.”

The union has called for a complete ban. Picture: Supplied.

“Bunnings will stop selling killer stone immediately if it really cares about Australian workers’ lives,” the union boss added.

Bunnings says all engineered stone benchtops it sells come pre-cut to size and it takes safety concerns seriously.

Federal and state ministers are currently considering a Safe Work Australia report about a potential ban on high-concentration crystalline silica slabs.

Modelling released by Curtin University earlier this year predicted that more than 10,000 Australians will develop lung cancer and up to 103,000 workers will be diagnosed with silicosis as a result of exposure to silica dust during their lifetimes.

The union said it wanted engineered stone banned and, if their demand is not met by mid next year, it will ban its members from working with the material.

Union members outside a Bunnings store on Saturday. Picture: Supplied.

Cells taken from the lungs of a patient with silicosis. Notice the speck of silica dust shining brightly.

Bunnings director of merchandise Jen Tucker said the hardware giant was aware of concerns and said it would continue to “monitor and follow advice from the regulatory authorities”.

It’s understood that after receiving a letter from the union, the store offered to meet with officials.

The engineered stone benchtop products offered in its stores are sold via a supply and install package, with the materials coming pre-cut and any alterations done via a specialist supplier.

“Most of the benchtops we sell in store are laminate or timber,” Ms Tucker said.

“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.”

Originally published as Bunnings hit by nationwide protests over ‘killer’ product