The Tile Association (TTA) welcomes the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) decision in its latest guidance on working with engineered stone to focus on safe installation techniques rather than implementing an outright ban on engineered stone products, as Australia has done. TTA previously organised a series of pan-European meetings to monitor how to safely work with engineered stone, which likewise acknowledged the importance of wet cutting and proper site conditions.
Engineered stone is generally made from crushed natural stone bonded with resin or cement.
The type of crushed stone used will determine the amount of respirable crystalline silicone content of the finished product – e.g. quartz is average 95% respirable crystalline silica (RCS), whereas marble is usually less than 3% RCS, and granite circa 30% – so the term ‘engineered stone’ is grossly misleading without reference to the type of crushed stone that has been engineered into a strong, hard-wearing construction product.
Silica is one of the most plentiful minerals on the planet and is present in most construction materials, ranging from concrete to blocks, roof tiles to cement, and even porcelain tiles. All of these products when dry cut or drilled produce fine silica dust that can be breathed deep into the lungs.
Exposure to RCS is dangerous because it can cause silicosis, an irreversible ‘but entirely preventable’ lung disease, according to Mike Calcutt, Deputy Director at HSE. Proper installation techniques are therefore necessary to avoid the development of silicosis, ensuring safe working conditions.
Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH), employers must assess and control workers’ exposure to RCS. The COSHH guidance for engineered stone sets out the latest advice for employers:
- Switch to low silica engineered stone
- Use on-tool water suppression and control mist – no dry cutting
- Provide appropriate respiratory protective equipment (RPE)
- Carry out regular health surveillance
It is recommended to use powered air purifying respirators (PAPR) with an assigned protection factor (APF) of at least 20 when processing, cleaning or when maintaining machinery. Detailed guidance is available in the COSHH essentials for stoneworkers: Silica sheet ST3A (PDF).
Over the next 12 months, HSE inspectors will carry out over 1,000 visits to fabricators across Great Britain to assess working conditions. HSE has warned that enforcement action will be taken where legal requirements are not being met.
Bringing together leading associations and federations, TTA organised pan-European meetings providing leadership on how industries have responded to handling engineered stone, chaired by TTA Technical Committee Chair Brian G Newell MBE. This action highlighted concerns regarding the ban on the use, supply, and manufacture of engineered stone implemented in Australia on 1st July 2024. A similar type of ban in the UK could seriously threaten the supply chain, with unforeseeable consequences for contract work, as well as decrease design flexibility and customer choice. On the other hand, implementing the appropriate measures for working with engineered stone promotes the safety of installers alongside work prospects.
TTA urges its contractor members to follow the guidance for wet cutting on site, rather than dry cutting, and be mindful of increased supervision. Unlimited technical advice is available to TTA members as part of their membership benefits – please email technical@tile.org.uk or call 0300 365 8453 if you have any questions.
For further information from HSE, visit the engineered stone pages on the Work Right website.
