The Health and Safety Executive has indicated that dry-cutting of engineered stone is now deemed unacceptable due to risks of lung disease
A new package of HSE stone cutting measures and guidance has been published, with the key aspect being that water-suppression methods are now legally required to prevent inhalation of stone dust.
Stone dust is an extremely dangerous substance, as repeated inhalation can lead to silicosis, lung disease, or cancer.
Inspections are scheduled across the nation
Over the next 12 months, HSE is set to conduct over 1,000 inspections of fabricators across the country, and the new wet-cutting requirements are expected to be enforced for any fabricators caught out.
HSE has been researching and engaging with the industry for two years to decide that new measures need to be put in place to control this risk following two deaths due to silicosis in recent years.
The issues with dry fabrication in stone cutting is the respirable crystalline silica (RCS) that the cutting worker is exposed to. It has been found that wet fabrication methods reduce the amount of RCS anywhere from five to 10 times, and that lower-content silica engineered stone produces less RCS while maintaining the same quality and availability.
Mike Calcutt, deputy director in HSE’s Engagement and Policy Division, said: “Today’s guidance marks our most significant intervention in the engineered stone sector to date, and not without good reason.
“Silicosis is incurable, but it is entirely preventable. No worker should lose their life to a lung disease caused by their job, and that is why we have taken this action.
“We have spent the past two years conducting extensive research and industry engagement to understand the scale of this risk. What we found was stark. Many businesses are not putting the right controls in place, they are still using engineered stone with high silica content, and dry cutting, which must stop.
“To every employer in this sector: the guidance is now published, the expectations are clear, and our inspectors are coming. Those who are cutting corners are not just putting their workers at risk — they are undercutting the businesses doing things properly. We will create a level playing field.
“To workers handling engineered stone: know your rights and know the controls that should be keeping you safe. If you have concerns, contact HSE.”
More workers should be aware of the risks
At the start of this year, CIOB researcher Dr Scott McGibbon and stonemason Athol Hill, spoke to PBC Today regarding their research and experience with silica dust, and their wishes for further restrictions.
Dr McGibbon said at the time: “Health and safety is often cut during procurement, and I have noticed many believe silica controls harm profitability. There’s also a problem with weak reporting and regulation which means many cases are not tracked, while inconsistent enforcement allows poor practices to continue. Additionally, organisations rely on reactive rather proactive measures, so there is no single, clear source of guidance.”
Athol added: “Personally, I think sometimes it comes down to cost pressures companies face, and there is also a massive lack of understanding around the danger that silica dust poses. This is why we’re calling for the government to invest more money into helping companies protect their workforce.”
The new HSE guidance on engineered stone can be found for free here.
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