Installing stone worktops - Health and Safety Executive's Do's and Don'ts

Home » News & Knowledge » Silicosis: Do’s and don’ts for installing stone worktops according to HSE

The Health and Safety regulator has issued new, simplified advice for workers and employers who deal with engineered stone.

The newly published document has been issued after increasing concerns around workers inhaling stone dust – causing long-term and incurable health issues such as silicosis.

Installing stone worktops

The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) guidance is designed to remind duty holders and workers about the need to ensure that suitable procedures and controls are in place to help protect against exposure to stone dust and prevent workers breathing in respirable crystalline silica (RCS).

Stone workers are at risk of exposure to airborne particles of stone dust containing RCS when processing stone, including engineered stone, 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.

Earlier this week, Oakwood Solicitors Ltd’s Deputy Head of Industrial Disease, Liam Hill, spoke about the need for tighter regulations when it comes to working with engineered stone.

He said:

“Restrictions in relation to inhalable dust of various kinds has been in place for a long time now. It is somewhat concerning that employees in various industries continue to exposed to harmful levels of substances include silica dust, without the correct PPE or workplace controls.

“The use of these and other harmful substances is, with the right control measures in place, something that can continue and in certain cases is required.

“Therefore we wouldn’t advice a complete ban but we would call for a industry wide development of knowledge as to these substances and their hazards and tighter controls of Health and Safety in the workplace, especially when life limiting substances are being used.”

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.”

Last year, countries such as Australia banned the use of engineered stone, after fears that it would become the ‘new asbestos’ in stonemasonry workers.

Health conditions such as silicosis often do not start presenting symptoms until decades after exposure to the toxic dust, and symptoms continue to worsen even if exposure is then stopped.

The newly published guidance breaks down the ‘do’s and don’ts’ for working with stone worktops. To read the newly published guidance in full, visit the HSE website.

Working with engineered stone – 5 steps to take

Here are just some of the important steps that can be taken to minimise the risk of exposure to toxic materials:

Installers should understand the risk from processing stone and how to use suitable controls.
Worktops should be pre-fabricated so further processing on site is avoided.
Water suppression or on-tool extraction with 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.
Cleaning should be by wet methods or dust class M vacuum to prevent creation of dust.

I have been diagnosed with a respiratory disease – What should I do?

If you have been diagnosed with a respiratory illness such as Silicosis and you believe it was caused as a result of failures/and or negligence in your current or former workplace, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

Employers have a legal duty to ensure employees are safe at work, by providing adequate protective equipment, training and safety practices.

If you believe your employer failed to meet these requirements and as a result, you have suffered harm, you may be entitled to compensation.

If your symptoms were initially mistaken for another condition or your diagnosis took an unnecessarily long time to confirm, you may also be able to make a claim for medical misdiagnosis or delay.

Silicosis Employer Liability laws

As well as the common law duty to ensure a safe place of work and a safe system of work, your employer will have several duties set down by statute:

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

Employers have a duty so far as is reasonably practicable to ensure the safety and welfare of their employees.

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

Duty to undertake a reasonable risk assessment (Reg. 3)
Requirement to undertake a health surveillance (Reg. 6)

Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992

Ensure that suitable personal equipment is provided (Reg. 4)
Ensure an assessment of any personal protective equipment is undertaken to determine whether it is suitable.

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002

Required to assess health risks where work is liable to expose employees to substances hazardous to health (Reg. 6)
Ensure exposure to substances hazardous to health is either prevented or where not reasonably practicable, adequately controlled (Reg. 7)
Ensure any employee exposed to substances hazardous to health are monitored and under suitable health surveillance (Reg. 11)

If these are not met and as a result, you have suffered harm, you may be entitled to compensation.

I have been diagnosed with Silicosis but I stopped working at the company a while ago, can I still make a claim?

If you have only been diagnosed with silicosis recently, then your action should be in time for limitation purposes, even if you were exposed to silica dust decades ago.

However, this is solely evidence-based for each action, so it is strongly recommended that you speak with a solicitor to take further advice as soon as possible.

How much compensation will I get?

The amount of compensation you will be awarded will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and will depend on your circumstances and injuries caused by the exposure.

The claims range for these types of cases can be from a few thousand pounds to hundreds of thousands of pounds.

What contains silica dust?

Silica dust is commonly found in materials that contain crystalline silica, a mineral present in many natural substances. Materials that contain silica dust include:

Sandstone
Granite
Quartz
Concrete
Bricks
Ceramics and tiles
Glass
Stone (like marble and limestone)
Asphalt
Soil, clay, and gravel

These materials release silica dust when cut, drilled, ground, or crushed, which is why industries like construction, mining, stonemasonry, and glass manufacturing are particularly at risk for exposure.

Jobs at risk of silicosis

Silicosis is caused by inhaling Silica found in certain types of rock, stone, sand and clay. People who work in the following industries are particularly at risk:

Stone masonry and stone cutting – especially with sandstone
Construction and demolition – as a result of exposure to concrete and paving materials
Worktop manufacturing and fitting
Pottery, ceramics and glass manufacturing
Mining and quarrying
Sandblasting
Engineering

Symptoms of silicosis

The symptoms of silicosis vary depending on the severity of the disease, but they generally develop gradually and worsen over time. Common symptoms include:

Persistent Cough: A chronic, dry cough that doesn’t go away.
Shortness of Breath: Difficulty breathing or a feeling of breathlessness, especially after physical activity.
Chest Pain: Discomfort or pain in the chest area.
Fatigue: Persistent tiredness and lack of energy.
Weight Loss: Unexplained weight loss over time.
Fever: In some cases, low-grade fever may occur.
Blue-tinted lips or skin (Cyanosis): Due to a lack of oxygen in the blood.

In more advanced cases, individuals may experience worsening respiratory issues, a higher risk of lung infections like tuberculosis, and other complications such as lung cancer or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Silicosis treatment

At present, there is no cure for Silicosis because lung damage cannot be reversed. However, there is treatment available to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life. There’s no cure for silicosis because the lung damage can’t be reversed. Treatment aims to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.

For example, you may be offered long-term home oxygen therapy if you’re having difficulty breathing and have low levels of oxygen in your blood.

Bronchodilator medicines may also be prescribed to widen your airways and make breathing easier.

In very severe cases, a lung transplant may be an option, although there are strict health requirements to meet before this will be considered.

Why should I use Oakwood Solicitors Ltd?

If you’ve been diagnosed with silicosis, you may be able to claim compensation for the damages. Oakwood Solicitors Ltd agrees to work on your industrial disease claim on a ‘no-win, no-fee’ basis.

If your claim is unsuccessful, you will not be expected to pay us a penny. If you are successful in your claim, we take a percentage of the compensation meaning that the only time we will receive money is if we have brought your claim to a fruitful conclusion.

You will have a dedicated advisor who will see your claim through from start to finish, assisting you in the event of any queries or issues you may have. If it is preferable to you, we can assign a female advisor to carry out your claim.

Your case handler will also continue to provide regular updates until the conclusion of your claim, ensuring the process is as stress-free and effortless as possible.

Silicosis: Do’s and don’ts for installing stone worktops according to HSE