From 1 July 2024, Australia has banned the use, supply and manufacture of engineered stone, also known as artificial stone, which is made from crystalline silica-containing aggregates bonded with a polymer resin. Engineered stone is defined as an artificial product containing at least 1% crystalline silica on a weight basis. This far-reaching policy is the first of its kind in the world and is similar to the bans on the use of asbestos and asbestos products that are in place in many countries worldwide (currently 70 countries). Artificial stone is widely used for surfaces in kitchens and bathrooms as a low-cost alternative for products such as marble and granite. It is non-porous, harder and more flexible than many forms of natural stone. The main use is for kitchen countertops, although it is also used to make vanity units, walls and flooring. The product typically contains a high proportion of crystalline silica (up to 95%), which, when the material is cut, can result in high levels

Objectives This study aims to determine how workplace experiences of National Health Service (NHS) staff varied by ethnicity during the COVID-19 pandemic and how these experiences are associated with mental and physical health at the time of the study. Methods An online Inequalities Survey was conducted by the Tackling Inequalities and Discrimination Experiences in Health Services study in collaboration with NHS CHECK. This Inequalities Survey collected measures relating to workplace experiences (such as personal protective equipment (PPE), risk assessments, redeployments and discrimination) as well as mental health (Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7)), and physical health (PHQ-15) from NHS staff working in the 18 trusts participating with the NHS CHECK study between February and October 2021 (N=4622). Results Regression analysis of this cross-sectional data revealed that staff from black and mixed/other ethnic groups had greater odds of experi