Reinstallation of engineered stone

The exemption was granted under the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017.

Exemption No. 24-035 commenced on 9 May 2025 and has effect until otherwise varied or revoked.

Nature of exemption

This exemption is made by SafeWork NSW on its own initiative pursuant to clause 684 of the Regulation.

This Exemption applies to a PCBU carrying out, or directing or allowing a worker to carry out, the reinstallation of an engineered stone benchtop, panel or slab that was removed in order for other work to be carried out at the premises.

Those persons are exempt from compliance with clause 529D of the Regulation in respect of works specified in Schedule 1.

This Exemption is subject to the conditions specified in Schedule 2.

Exemption does not affect other requirements

Nothing in this Exemption affects any other requirements imposed by law in relation to the matters this Exemption applies to.

Definitions

For the purposes of this Exemption:

  • PCBU means a person conducting a business or undertaking.
  • Processing has the same meaning as clause 529A of the Regulation, and includes the use of power tools to cut, grind, trim, sand, polish or drill the engineered stone.
  • Regulation means the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017.

Schedule 1

This Exemption applies only to the reinstallation of an engineered stone benchtop, panel or slab which was temporarily removed to enable work to the underlying cabinetry or supporting structure, or to give access to repair or modify some underlying component, to be undertaken.

For the avoidance of doubt, this Exemption does not apply to the installation of any replacement engineered stone benchtop, panel or slab if the original engineered stone benchtop, panel or slab cannot be reinstalled.

Schedule 2

This Exemption is subject to the following conditions:

  1. The engineered stone benchtop, panel or slab must be reinstalled in the same location and at the same address from which it was removed.
  2. Permitted processing of the existing engineered stone benchtop, panel or slab is limited to:

    (i) minor modification to enable reinstallation - such as drilling holes for screws for the brackets for sinks, cooktops, or vanity; or polishing, cutting and grinding work to ensure the benchtop is flush with walls/joints; or
    (ii) repair, due to any damage caused during the removal, reinstallation or minor modification of the engineered stone benchtop, panel or slab.
  1. Any processing of the engineered stone benchtop, panel or slab must be controlled in accordance with clause 529B of the Regulation.
  2. The PCBU must notify SafeWork NSW of any processing being undertaken, in accordance with clause 529G of the Regulation.

Gazettal

Published in Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales, number 180 (pg6) on Friday, 9 May 2025.

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