The main causes of occupational ill health to stonemasons are:

• Hand arm vibration
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Silicosis
• Work related upper limb disorders

The main cause of injury is:

• Movement of stone slab

For information outside the stonemasonry workshop, stonemasons are referred to the HSE construction pages for guidance on health and safety during in-situ restoration work and installation risk.

Leaflets and guidance

• Reducing the risk of hand-arm vibration injury among stonemasons [57kb]
• Stone dust and you – Guidance for stonemasons INDG315 [329kb]
• COSHH essentials for stonemasons: Silica
• Controlling exposure to stonemasonry dust   
• Hand arm vibration in the cast stone industry MISC493 [66kb]
• Review of targeted initiatives in the manufacturing sector Research report RR620

COPD case studies

• COPD (Silica) - Failure to report a case of ill health - Successful HSE prosecution

• Amicus guide to controlling silica dust