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Working With Artificial Stone

Guidance

For installers of stone worktops and anyone who cuts or works with stone.

Stoneworking guidance

Controls

How to control exposure to silica dust and protect the health of workers.

Stoneworking controls

Resources

Access advice for workers, leaflets and more useful information

Stoneworking resources

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Control exposure to keep workers safe

Dust from artificial, engineered, or even natural stone can cause serious illness. This information is for fabricators, installers and distributors – including their managers and supervisors.

The cutting, chiselling and polishing of artificial stone can generate high levels of stone dust containing respirable crystalline silica (RCS). If the dust is inhaled into the lungs, it can cause devastating lung diseases including silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer.

Although irreversible, these diseases are preventable with the right controls. Some of the important steps that can be taken to minimise the risk of exposure include:

  • understand the risk and how to use suitable controls
  • avoid on site processing of worktops
  • use of water suppression or on-tool extraction
  • use of respiratory protective equipment
  • cleaning using dust vacuum and wet methods.

See above information and resources for more detail.

Additional information and guidance

Health surveillance

Training

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