The renovation dream killing Australia's young tradies – Nine Shows

We spend more than $1 billion each month sprucing up our homes with shiny new kitchens and bathrooms.
But what's not well known is many of the young tradies who cut up the engineered stone to make the benches and vanities we so desire have been handed a death sentence.
That's because these man-made products contain silica, and its dust, when inhaled, is a killer.
Watch the full investigation here on 9Now
In fact, over time it's considered as toxic as asbestos.
In a joint 60 Minutes, The Age and Sydney Morning Herald investigation, Adele Ferguson reveals startling information that while the workers say they've been unaware of the dangers, not so the manufacturers of these products.
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No one from Caesarstone was prepared to discuss the dangers of its product in an on-camera interview. Instead, they answered written questions and provided a statement to 60 Minutes.
SafeWork NSW and John Holland also provided written statements.
Key points
Read the full statement here.
Read the full statement from SafeWork NSW here.
The safety of our people and contractors is our number one priority.
We comply with all relevant workplace health and safety regulations to ensure air monitoring on all of our sites, including the Rozelle Interchange Project, is of the highest possible standard.
The Rozelle Interchange Project implements all necessary controls to ensure the health and safety of its workforce.
Multiple engineering controls are in place to reduce exposure to dust and respirable crystalline silica across the Rozelle Interchange Project and Western Harbour Tunnel Enabling Works.
The underground ventilation system installed across the project has been designed and is audited by a Ventilation Engineer – which is over and above the legislated requirements for the Project.
All plant involved in excavating sandstone at the tunnel faces contain HEPA-filtered, positively pressurised cabins and operators are required to wear respiratory protection while operating plant.
Daily ventilation and air quality measurements are conducted in line with Project-specific work health and safety systems. This includes water suppression and multiple dust ventilators close to the source.
Exposure monitoring is conducted as specified by NSW work health and safety laws, and in accordance with Australian standards by an onsite occupational hygienist, registered with the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH).
Monitoring is conducted at a frequency which fulfills legislative requirements and best practices determined by the AIOH, other industry bodies and independent industry experts.
Crystalline silica monitoring samples are sent to the laboratory run by SafeWork NSW for analysis.
Watch the full 60 Minutes episode on 9Now.
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