Tradie, a father of three who was diagnosed with a terminal illness just a day before his 30th birthday, is asking Bunnings to stop selling the product that made him ill

A traditional father-of-three has claimed Bunnings is “benefiting from death” after being diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Ben Harrison, 34, has been battling silicosis, a long-term lung disease caused by inhaling dangerous levels of silica dust, for more than four years.

Mr Harrison likely inhaled the toxic particles while cutting into silicone-based kitchen worktops while working as a stonemason on the Gold Coast.

Many of the tabletops he has worked on are sold by third parties through hardware giant Bunnings.

His fiancée, Cristale McCormick, told Daily Mail Australia that Bunnings was happy making money until laws around the use of artificial stone changed, even though stonemasons were getting sick and dying.

“They’re basically waiting to see what they do.” “It’s wrong,” Ms. McCormick said.

“They make money until they can’t anymore.”

After returning to his home state of Tasmania with his partner and children, he was contacted by friends who advised him to get tested after one of his former work colleagues, Anthony White, was diagnosed with silicosis.

Tradie Ben Harrison (pictured above left with his fiancée Cristale McCormick and their three children), 34, has been battling silicosis, a long-term lung disease caused by inhaling dangerous levels of silica dust, for years

The day before his 30th birthday, doctors told him that he had an incurable lung disease.

He and his colleagues had “no idea” about the risks of working with the countertops and said no one ever took protective measures.

He remembered that the stonemasons couldn’t see each other on some working days because it was “so dusty.”

Mr Harrison’s former colleague, Mr White, was the first Australian to die from the disease, 16 months after his diagnosis.

According to his fiancée, the young father’s condition has placed a terrible burden on the family and she now faces the prospect of raising her three children, aged five, seven and nine, as a widow.

“It has completely ruined our family and our entire lives have been ripped away from us,” Ms McCormick said.

“We live a nightmare of uncertainty every day.”

The two got engaged the day after his 30th birthday and, after many delays, plan to finally tie the knot while they still can.

“We’re getting married on October 14th so we can make sure we get married before he dies.”

Awareness groups like the Lung Foundation claim that silicosis is the asbestos of today and that it will affect an entire generation of stonemasons.

The father-of-three was working as a stonemason on the Gold Coast when he began to feel seriously unwell

The couple accused Bunnings of “profiting from death” after the building union called on them to remove their engineered stone worktops (stock image).

The parents initially tried to hide Mr. Harrison’s diagnosis from their children, but after a while it became too obvious to hide.

“Over time, we realized we couldn’t hide doctor’s appointments,” she said.

“And when he started staying in the hospital overnight, all we said was that Dad was staying overnight.

“Then when he got worse, we had to say, “You can’t play with dad because he’s breathless.”

“Eventually we had to have serious conversations with our children and give them insights that they shouldn’t have.”

The pair have fallen out at Bunnings after the hardware giant faced demands from the construction union not to sell engineered kitchen worktops after they were found to contain a high concentration of crystalline silica.

“Bunnings only profits from death,” Ms Harrison said told Yahoo News Australia.

“They don’t care about the consequences.”

The CFMEU has taken its calls to ban the products directly to the store’s managing director, Michael Schneider, warning it would be “unconscionable” to keep engineered stone worktops in its range.

“Bunnings has unique market power and a unique place in Australian society.” “Removing this killer product from your shelves would send a powerful message,” wrote CFMEU boss Zach Smith.

In his letter, Mr. Smith called for the product to be removed “effective immediately.”

“I am disappointed that despite all this information, Bunnings is still promoting and selling high silica engineered stone products in your stores across the country,” he said.

“Conversely, it is unconscionable for Bunnings to continue to promote and sell this killer product when there is no need to do so.”

Mr Harrison was diagnosed with the fatal illness, which he contracted from inhaling silica dust while cutting into silicon-based kitchen worktops as part of his work as a stonemason

Cells from the lungs of a patient with silicosis – note the brightly glowing spot of quartz dust

However, Bunnings merchandise director Jen Tucker said the hardware giant would follow regulators’ advice.

“Most of the countertops we sell in the store are made of laminate or wood. However, the engineered stone worktops we offer are pre-cut to the correct size before they arrive at the customer’s premises and are supplied and installed by a specialist supplier who holds an engineered stone license. “We apply strict safety standards to ensure production and to protect installation teams in accordance with the requirements of their license,” she said.

“The safety of our team and our customers is very important to us.”

“We know that safety is a concern for the industry as a whole and that the federal government is currently reviewing it.”

“We support new legislation and the introduction of uniform standards and licensing across all states and territories.”

Mr Harrison has now turned his attention to his family and plans to marry his partner next month

Due to the terminal illness, he is no longer able to work and is struggling to receive any compensation from his employer

Mr Harrison is no longer able to work due to his incurable illness.

He also struggled to get any compensation from his employer, who he says took no responsibility for his silicosis diagnosis.

The former stonemason has now turned his attention to his family and plans to marry his partner next month.

When asked what his future would hold, Mr Harrison said he wasn’t sure he would “have much of it”.

Curtin University modeling published earlier this year estimates that up to 103,000 workers will be diagnosed with silicosis over their lifetime due to exposure to silica dust in the workplace.

More than 10,000 develop lung cancer.

The CFMEU has promised to ban its members from using or importing engineered stone products from July next year if the federal and state governments do not act.

When asked what his future would hold, Mr Harrison said he wasn’t sure he would “have much of it”.

What is Silicosis?

Silicosis is an aggressive and incurable lung disease caused by inhaling crystalline silica dust (sand).

The disease is known to occur in workers who have been exposed to dust for hundreds of years – typically workers who have been exposed to mineral dust for a long period of time, such as when working in mines.

When products containing crystalline silica are cut, crushed, polished or similarly processed, they release very fine dust particles into the air, usually so small as to be invisible.

Silicosis causes silica dust to form, which slowly scars the lungs. The disease typically affects tradesmen

These are then inhaled and can lodge deep in the lungs, where they can cause serious lung and health damage.

Exposure to crystalline silica dust can cause chronic bronchitis and emphysema, among other lung diseases. Symptoms of silica dust exposure include shortness of breath, severe cough, chest pain and fatigue.

There is no such thing as silica cancer. However, the presence of silica dust in the lungs can significantly increase the risk of developing lung cancer. Lung cancer from silica dust is also more likely if the person has smoked.

Silicosis is a disease characterized by inflammation and scarring of the lungs. Silicosis is generally a progressive disease that can lead to the development of other silica lung diseases and possibly death.