Working engineered stone: Control silica risk

Engineered stone is artificial stone manufactured using crushed natural stone or minerals bonded together with resin. When you work engineered stone, like cutting or drilling it, it creates dust.

Silica dust fine enough to reach deep inside the lungs, when you breathe it in, is known as respirable crystalline silica (RCS).

Exposure to RCS

RCS can cause irreversible lung damage, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. Damage to health may be done before any symptoms develop. Silicosis can continue to worsen even after exposure to RCS stops.

Employers’ legal requirements

Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH), employers must assess and control workers' exposure to RCS.

Control the risks

Steps you can take to control RCS dust risk from cutting grinding and polishing engineered stone using powered handheld rotary tools include:

• work with stone containing the lowest crystalline silica content
• control the mist generated by water suppression because it contains

crystalline silica

• use powered air purifying respirators (PAPR) with an assigned protection factor (APF) of at least 20 when processing, cleaning or when maintaining machinery
• regularly review your control measures to check that they are still effective
• provide health surveillance for workers if they are regularly exposed to RCS dust and there is a reasonable likelihood that COPD or silicosis may develop
• clean the work area regularly - dust from surfaces or work clothing can be a significant source of exposure

Detailed guidance is available in the COSHH essentials for stoneworkers: Silica sheet ST3A.