It is the first official step towards tackling a rising number of UK cases of silicosis among young workers caused by inhaling toxic dust when cutting engineered – or artificial – stone, primarily quartz.
While man-made quartz is cheaper than other natural stone used in kitchen refits, it has a much higher silica content; up to 95 per cent compared to marble at around five per cent silica and granite, which contains between 15 and 30 per cent.
A Government spokesperson said that after engaging with the industry, two major UK importers of engineered stone have “agreed to manage the silica content of imports to the equivalent, or lower, than that of natural stone”.
i has been reporting on cases of silicosis linked to cutting engineered stone without adequate safety measures since the start of 2024
Most of the people affected are men, predominantly migrant workers, employed in small workshops that ignore safety regulations such as “wet” cutting – using water to dampen the stone and suppress dust – or proper extraction tools to remove dust from the air quickly.
A report in August last year by doctors at the Royal Brompton Hospital treating the UK’s first eight cases called on the Government to consider a ban on engineered stone. Australia became the first country to ban the material in July last year after hundreds of engineered stone workers were struck down with silicosis. Silicosis is a disease that has afflicted workers in industries such as mining or construction for hundreds of years. But compared to cases in these industries doctors have found engineered stone workers are dying and falling ill sooner, and after less exposure to silica dust.The Polish father-of-three wanted to warn other workers of the risk after he contracted silicosis from cutting quartz in workshops with dust “like a tornado”.
West London’s senior coroner has issued a rare Prevention of Future Death report before Mr Al-Jundi’s inquest demanding a “timetable for action” from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Government departments.
There are now 40 engineered stone workers understood to have been diagnosed with silicosis since the first cases emerged in mid-2023, up from around 10 at the start of last year.
“We have well-established laws for protecting workers from exposure to hazardous substances and risks to their health, including when working with engineered stone.
Cases of silicosis have increased
Kevin Bampton, chair of the British Occupational Hygiene Society, said education, awareness and campaigning have often been more effective in protecting people’s health than “pushing it back to Government to police health”.
The Worktop Fabricators’ Federation, a trade body promoting best practice in the industry, said new low or no-silica stones were being developed, but their focus was on limiting dust exposure.
“It is important for designers and consumers to understand this distinction and recognise the expertise and value provided by WFF members services and other reputable fabricators, in contrast to businesses that do not adequately address worker safety.”
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