Britain’s workplace safety regulator has published a guide of do’s and don’ts for people installing stone worktops.
The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) guidance is designed to highlight the need for suitable procedures and controls being 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. Last year, medical experts called on the UK government to ban artificial stone worktops after links to accelerated forms of silicosis.
The document provides practical guidance for installers, their managers and supervisors who are involved in the installation of stone worktops (whether made of natural, artificial or engineered stone).
Some of the steps that can be taken to minimise the risk of exposure includes:
It also covers competent staff and effective processes, pre-installation, on-site installation, and post-installation.
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, including 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).
