As of Monday 1 July 2024, new regulations have commenced that ban manufacturing, supplying, processing, or installation of engineered stone benchtops, panels, and slabs in Victoria.

However, on-site cutting and modification of existing, installed engineered stone is still allowed. It is only un-controlled dry cutting that is banned and for good reason.

At Melbourne Stone Repairs we pride ourselves in being Melbourne’s number one cleanest and safest engineered stone cutters.

Our method of controlled cutting uses a specifically designed H-class extraction system with on tool suppression, that takes the dust straight from the tool as it is created. This is by far the safest and cleanest way to cut engineered stone on site with no dust left at all.

Below are some of the new regulations from Worksafe that are relevant to on-site cutting of engineered stone.

The regulations:

• prohibit the installation, processing, supply and manufacture of engineered stone panels, slabs and benchtops; and

• allow work with engineered stone panels, slabs and benchtops under limited circumstances, including: 

  • research and analysis;

  • sample and identification

  • removal, repair and modification to already installed engineered stone; and

  • disposal

• require that any any permitted engineered stone processes are treated as high-risk crystalline silica work; and

• remove the requirements to hold an engineered stone licence.

• If you are working with legacy stone, Victoria's OHS Regulations will continue to prohibit the cutting, grinding and abrasive polishing of engineered stone with power tools, unless on-tool water suppression or dust extraction devices are in place and respiratory protection equipment is used.