We have been making clients and the wider community aware of the hazards of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) for many years.  In our work supporting the HSE’s Working Well Together Campaign, we ran a workshop at Bristol University back in September 2011 to raise awareness in the construction and contracting sectors and we’re still working today to get the message out to more people.

These risks remain misunderstood and most people are unaware of the manner in which personal exposure limits may still be breached even where water dust suppression is in use.  We provide advice, training and air monitoring to ensure that you have the right precautions in place.  Call us or request a call back and speak to an expert about how you can protect the health of your workers and protect them from inhalation of respirable crystalline silica (RCS)

Silica in stone working – new advice for installers of stone worktops

Stone workers are at risk of exposure to airborne particles of stone dust containing respirable crystalline silica (RCS) when processing stone, including engineered stone, by cutting, chiselling, and polishing.

Why this matters

Breathing in the silica particles in stone dust over time can cause permanent, life-changing, and often fatal lung conditions.

This includes:

• silicosis
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• lung cancer

New guidance available

HSE has worked with the industry to create new guidance that will help protect worktop installers. The guidance explains what employers and workers need to do to stay safe from stone dust.

The guidance covers 3 main areas:

• competent staff and effective processes – how to ensure workers are properly trained and processes protect them
• pre-installation actions – what to do before installation begins
• on-site installation actions – how to work safely during installation

To find important safety advice and access further resources visit our Work Right campaign website.

You can also read HSE’s detailed guidance: Installing stone worktops: protect against harmful natural or artificial stone dust