Federal, state and territory workplace health and safety minister will meet today to discuss a potential ban on the use of silicosis-linked manufactured stone.
But Far North Queensland mason Aaron Flint believes its only a "lazy" operator would cut stone without water and says there should not be any need for a ban.
"Everything we cut is wet so dust does not become airborne," Mr Flint said.
The Cairns stonemason runs a kitchen benchtop business and believes he has done everything possible to protect his workers from the incurable lung disease.
By cutting material with running water, Mr Flint said there was a very low chance of dust to become airborne.
He said it was a practice that everyone in the industry should have adopted.
"It's a horrible disease and something we don't want," Mr Flint said.
"We do everything possible to stop that from happening."
Ban still 12 months away
Federal Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke says any ban on silicosis-linked manufactured stone will not come into effect for at least 12 months.
Mr Burke argues Australia cannot keep delaying action and says his conversations with state ministers have been constructive.
But Mr Flint says people just need to deal with the product correctly.
"Its totally understandable why there's calls for a ban, but I think there the product could be improved and create products where silica levels are brought down," he said.
"We've been in a good place — we've never had any silica cases and hope we never do."
Workers who cut or file engineered stone products are diagnosed with silicosis at a much higher rate than the general population.
"The boys all have respirators they have to wear, which get checked every 12 months," Mr Flint said.
"We get air quality checks every year, the boys get health and lung screenings, we really pride ourselves on looking after our staff."
