Oceania

The case of Silestone quartz that caused silicosis in nearly 2,000 people arrives in Australia

The case of Silestone quartz that caused silicosis in nearly 2,000 people arrives in Australia

The federal government of Australia and the country’s unions ordered urgent measures to cut imports of silestone quartz to the country. In another order of things, the Spanish judiciary penalizes the general director of the company, Francisco Martinez Consentino, a leading businessman in the sector who is preparing to go public. The manipulation of the flagship product caused the majority of cases of silicosis diagnosed between 2007 and 2019. In a report on the television program 60 minutes in collaboration with the press of the journalistic group 9NEWSthe journalists revealed that the symptoms suffered by the workers in the sector were in many cases irreparable.

In this context, they maintain that those in charge of supervising the work of employees were, to some extent, responsible for the crisis affecting the industrial sector. However, they emphasize the lack of rigor and decisive measures of the Australian political class to eradicate the problem.

On the other hand, in a new informative advance on the sale of kitchens with Silestone quartz by the company of Martínez Consentino, the journalists assume that sales were achieved in Australia with record figures. In any case, one in five countertops covered with artificial stone resulted in a risk for workers due to the inhalation of silica dust, the effects of which could lead to carcinogenic diseases.

prohibitive measures

The Executive decided to delay the controversial matter for six months to know the progress that will occur after imposing disciplinary measures. In this sense, Tony Burke, minister in charge of labor relations, said that the Government had established a plan for recognition in order for citizens to know about the problems caused by chemical products that are dangerous to health.

On the other hand, the minister added, courses will be established to teach those who have to supervise the work of the industrial sector, as well as to establish licenses for products that do not require any type of prohibition.

In addition, Burke stressed that the cabinet ministers agreed on measures so that the body Save Work, (National institution that promotes health and work) will investigate what kind of materials should be prohibited, after learning that a manufacturer used more than 40 percent crystalline silica.

In another aspect, it is worth highlighting a peculiar case about the revelations of Minister Burke, to a group of journalists, shortly before meeting with the rest of the ministers of the ministerial cabinet to discuss the controversial issue. His words were clearly in favor of immediately banning the use of products that are harmful to health, summoning all “Premiers” Australian States and Territories.

To exemplify his ideas, he used a simile with the toys that children buy. The minister explained that if a toy is made with products that are dangerous to health, authorities order immediately empty the product from the shelves and commercial warehouses.

By the way, taking up the reactions of the ” Premiers“, Grace, minister of industrial relations for the Queensland State government, said last weekend that “it was necessary to completely stop shipments from abroad of harmful products to employees in the sector.”

However, in the last few hours, he remained more condescending, saying that by waiting another six months, perhaps the problem could be completely corrected. Looking back, in 2018 she wrote a letter to former Prime Minister Scott Morrison to impose tough measures in order to save lives of industry employees as a result of silicosis. However, your concerns They fell on deaf ears without receiving an answer.

Australian unions discouraged by government decision

Sally McManus, president of the Australian unions, stressed that the government would have to settle the dispute by banning imported products from companies that manufacture products that are harmful to health.

For his part, his right-hand man, Liam O’Brien, said that an agreement was established some time ago to cut remittances from abroad in the year 2024. However, he added, “We cannot stay with our arms crossed”. “Therefore, it is now and not later that it would be necessary to cut off import supplies.”

Finally, with regard to those in charge of supervising the workers, Liam emphasized the lack of rigor and harsh measures Australian political class to eradicate the problem.

record numbers

One in five fitted kitchens are sold in Australia. However, union sources and health organizations assure that the workers ran the risk of inhale silica dust whose effects could cause carcinogenic diseases.

In this regard, sources from the Reuters news agency stress that two weeks ago Martínez Cosentino was sentenced to six months in prison. However, the judge annulled the sentence after the defendant ruled that he had covered the damages that could be caused to the clients. The agency’s statement adds that, in Australia, the company’s CEO will also have to submit to the courts of law.

In another context, a survey undertaken by Curtin University, located on the outskirts of the city of Perth, indicates that the number of victims due to materials hazardous to health is around 275,000. The analysis adds that between The victims include miners, contractors and, above all, workers in the sector, many of them emigrants from overseas.

Opposition criticism

Shortly after learning about the new executive directives on the six-month wait to resolve the controversial matter, Mike Freelander, a member of parliament for the Labor party, stressed that the Federal Government had handled the matter by taking a step back after affirming the ban earlier this week. Immediate removal of products that are harmful to health.

For his part, Graeme Edwards, who was once part of a national body looking into serious problems posed by silica products for workers in the industry, said he was disappointed. So much so that he has criticized the Government for acting passively and not wanting to solve a highly relevant problem.

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