Why Quartz Worktops Are Behind a New Silicosis Warning

Employer duties and regulatory action

New guidance has been introduced, making it the first dedicated COSHH guidance for engineered stone. This means that employers must assess exposure properly, use on-tool water suppression, control airborne mist and dust, provide suitable respiratory protective equipment, and carry out health surveillance. HSE has warned that dry fabrication can expose workers to silica dust levels five to ten times higher than wet methods using the same tools. Where these precautions are ignored or not followed correctly, there may be grounds to investigate whether an employer has failed in its duty of care.

The hidden danger behind engineered stone

Quartz worktops have become increasingly popular because they deliver the appearance of premium natural stone such as granite or marble at a lower cost. But while the finished surface may appear harmless in the home, the fabrication process can expose workers to dangerous concentrations of fine silica dust. Engineered stone is made by combining crushed stone with resins, and when it is cut, ground, or polished, high levels of respirable crystalline silica can be released. The popularity of the product makes it even more important that manufacturers, fabricators, and employers put robust safety systems in place.

Why early action is critical

Silicosis is irreversible, progressive, and there is no cure. In some cases, it can develop after a relatively short period of exposure, especially where workers are handling high-silica engineered stone without proper dust suppression or respiratory protection. Due to the fact that symptoms may take time to appear, workers may already have sustained serious lung damage by the time they are diagnosed. That delay can also mean cases are missed or misdiagnosed. Anyone who has developed breathing problems after working with engineered stone should seek medical advice and consider whether their employer took adequate steps to protect them.

Do the new measures go far enough?

For affected workers and bereaved families, the tougher guidance is a welcome step, but it may not be enough on its own. The central issue is accountability. If silicosis is preventable, then employers who fail to control dust exposure should be held responsible for the consequences. At Blackwater Law, we believe the new guidance strengthens the expectation that businesses in this sector must take silica risks seriously. Where they do not, injured workers may be entitled to pursue industrial disease compensation and answers about how their exposure was allowed to happen.