HSE publish new advice for working safely with stone worktops

UK regulator the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have published new guidance for safely installing stone worktops.

The guidance follows a number of cases throughout last year of artificial stone-related silicosis. Workers polished and dry-cut the stone worktops without sufficient safety measures in place, and quickly developed an accelerated form of the lethal respiratory condition.

Medical experts the British Thoracic Society called on the UK government to ban artificial stone worktops altogether.

They highlighted stone workers’ higher risk of exposure to airborne particles of stone dust containing respirable crystalline silica (RCS) when processing stone. This includes stone engineered by cutting, chiselling and polishing.

Over time, breathing in these silica particles can cause irreversible, life-changing and often fatal respiratory conditions such as silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer.

HSE’s existing guidance on controlling exposure to respirable dust and silica still applies. Their new guidance is in effect, a simplified version designed to be more accessible. It contains practical advice for installers, their managers and supervisors who are involved in the installation of stone worktops (whether made of natural, artificial or engineered stone).

Basic steps to minimise the risk of silica exposure include:

• Understanding the risk from processing stone and how to use suitable controls;
• Using pre-fabricated worktops to avoid further processing on site;
• Water suppression or on-tool extraction with a shroud and dust collector attached to an M-class vacuum should be used to control any dust generated;
• Respiratory protective equipment with an assigned protection factor (APF) of at least 20 (e.g. FFP3 face mask) should be worn when processing the stone; and
• Cleaning should be by wet methods or an M-class dust vacuum, to prevent creation of dust.

Mike Calcutt, Deputy Director at Health and Work, said:

“HSE will continue to work with industry stakeholders to raise awareness of managing the risks from exposure to respirable crystalline silica. It’s important that businesses act now to ensure they comply with the law and protect their workers from serious lung diseases.

“Great Britain has a robust and well-established regulatory framework in place to protect workers from the health risks associated with exposure to hazardous substances.

“We want employers and workers to make sure they are aware of the risks associated with the activities they do, and that’s why we are sending this reminder.

“HSE’s inspectors have often found poor management of control measures including water suppression, dust extraction, equipment maintenance, cleaning and RPE provision. Employers should ensure suitable control measures are properly used and maintained.”

HSE added that businesses should have effective control measures in place to control silica dust. This could include combinations of the enclosure and automation of processing equipment, use of water suppression and control of any mist generated and personal protective equipment (such as RPE) to reduce workers’ exposure to the RCS, in compliance with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH).

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