HSE serves first Prohibition Notices as part of nationwide health and safety inspection campaign
\nEnforcement action taken to protect workers from deadly silica dust
\nFour companies ordered to stop work after visits from HSE inspectors
\nIt comes after guidance issued telling industry to stop dry-cutting engineered stone<\/p>\n
Four companies have been ordered to stop working with engineered stone as part of a crackdown to protect workers from deadly dust.<\/p>\n
The companies received prohibition notices (PNs) following visits by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors. The notices are enforcement actions that require the businesses to stop the work immediately and take steps to improve safety. \u00a0Each of the firms was found to have had a lack of control measures in place to keep employees safe while working with engineered stone.<\/p>\n
HSE launched a package of measures last month to protect workers from the dangers of engineered stone dust. It followed concern about the deaths of young workers from silicosis \u2013 a deadly-but-preventable lung disease caused by breathing in respirable crystalline silica (RCS). A nationwide inspection campaign was launched to run through 2026, and inspections have resulted in these four enforcement notices being served as of the end of May.<\/p>\n
HSE enforcement notices are published approximately five weeks after they are served to account for the appeals process and internal quality assurance.<\/p>\n
Publication of new guidance<\/a> from HSE made it clear that dry cutting of engineered stone is unacceptable, and the regulator plans to conduct more than 1,000 visits at which enforcement action to be taken against those\u00a0failing\u00a0to meet\u00a0the required standards.<\/p>\n Harvey Wild, Head of Operations at the Health and Safety Executive, said: \u201cOur inspectors are visiting businesses across Great Britain to ensure that employers have implemented the correct controls to keep their employees safe.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have stopped dangerous work with engineered stone in four workplaces due to serious failures in providing the correct controls.<\/p>\n \u201cSilicosis 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.\u00a0If businesses ensure the right controls are being used correctly, then the risks of engineered stone and silicosis can be safely managed. Where these are not in place, workers will be at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said: <\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cEvery worker deserves to come home safe, without fear of losing their life to a preventable, deadly lung disease caused by their job.<\/p>\n \u201cThe enforcement action taken by HSE sends a clear message that putting workers at risk of silicosis \u2013 an entirely preventable but devastating disease \u2013 is completely unacceptable and there will be consequences.<\/p>\n \u201cI urge all businesses working with engineered stone to follow HSE\u2019s guidance now. There is no excuse for exposing workers to unnecessary risk.\u201d<\/p>\n The dangers of engineered stone include silicosis, a deadly-but-preventable lung disease caused by breathing in silica dust that is released when stone is being processed. HSE\u2019s research found that dry fabrication typically results in exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) five to ten times higher than wet methods for processing products. It also found that lower-content silica engineered stone is available\u00a0at the same quality, meaning businesses can switch to less dangerous products.<\/p>\n This evidence led to HSE acting decisively to ensure those controls become universal across the industry, and to provide clarity to businesses and workers, HSE has published its first-ever COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)\u00a0guidance sheet<\/a>\u00a0specifically for engineered stone.<\/p>\n HSE\u2019s guidance sets out in plain English what employers must do: switch to engineered stone with a low silica content; use\u00a0on-tool\u00a0water suppression, control mist; provide\u00a0appropriate respiratory\u00a0protective equipment (RPE); and carry out regular health surveillance.<\/p>\n \u200bHSE\u2019s first instances of enforcement action also addressed a range of other failures including Health Surveillance; provision of suitable respiratory protective equipment (RPE); provision of suitable local exhaust ventilation; and machinery guarding.<\/p>\n To support dutyholders HSE provides a range of advice and information for fabricators, installers, and distributors of engineered stone \u2013 including managers and supervisors. Visit Working engineered stone: Control silica risk \u2013 HSE<\/a><\/p>\n Further Information:<\/strong><\/p>\n The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain\u2019s national regulator for workplace health and safety.<\/p>\n HSE\u2019s new guidance for engineered stone outlines the controls that should be in place when working with the material, which effectively rules out dry-cutting, grinding and polishing, unless businesses can\u00a0demonstrate\u00a0an equally effective or better control is in place. This is not a new law, or a formal prohibition as would be achieved\u00a0with changes to legislation.<\/p>\n