HSE Takes Decisive Action on Engineered Stone – What This Means for Employers

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recently issued a significant and timely update regarding the processing of engineered stone, sending a clear message to industry: dry cutting must stop.

This announcement, published on 11 May 2026, forms part of a wider enforcement crackdown aimed at protecting workers from exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS), a hazardous substance linked to serious and often fatal health conditions.

Understanding The Risk

Engineered stone, commonly used in kitchen and bathroom worktops, can contain up to 95% crystalline silica. When this material is cut, drilled, or polished, it releases fine silica dust that can be inhaled deep into the lungs.

Exposure to this dust can lead to silicosis, an incurable and preventable lung disease, as well as other serious conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer.

What is particularly concerning is the rapid onset of disease associated with engineered stone. Unlike traditional silica-related illnesses, which may take decades to develop, cases linked to engineered stone have been found to progress within months or a few years.

Recent fatalities involving young workers have acted as a catalyst for change, prompting calls from medical professionals, unions and MPs for stronger regulatory intervention.

HSE’s Key Message: Dry Cutting is Unacceptable

The HSE’s updated guidance makes it unequivocally clear that dry cutting of engineered stone is now considered unacceptable due to the significantly increased exposure to airborne silica dust.

Research undertaken by the HSE found that dry cutting can expose workers to silica dust levels five to ten times higher than wet cutting methods using the same tools.

As a result, the regulator has confirmed that water suppression techniques must be used as the primary control measure to meet legal requirements under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations.

What Employers Must Do

Alongside eliminating dry cutting practices, the HSE has issued its first dedicated COSHH guidance for engineered stone, outlining the control measures that must be implemented. These include:

• Employers should ensure they are using engineered stone with a lower silica content where reasonably practicable
• Introduce effective on-tool water suppression systems
• Properly manage any airborne mist generated during the process
• Provide suitable respiratory protective equipment (RPE)
• Implement regular health surveillance for workers exposed to silica dust.

These are not optional recommendations—they represent legal requirements aimed at preventing long-term occupational ill health.

Inspection and Enforcement Programme

To reinforce these expectations, the HSE has launched a nationwide inspection programme, with over 1,000 site visits planned across Great Britain over the next 12 months.

Inspections are already underway, and the HSE has made it clear that enforcement action will be taken against organisations that fail to comply. This may include improvement or prohibition notices, and in serious cases, prosecution.

Why This Matters

This guidance represents one of the most significant interventions in the engineered stone sector to date. It reflects a broader shift towards proactively managing occupational health risks, rather than responding to them after harm has occurred.

From a health and safety perspective, the message is clear: silicosis is entirely preventable, but only where appropriate controls are properly implemented and consistently applied.

For employers, this is an opportunity not only to ensure compliance with legal duties but also to demonstrate a commitment to protecting the long-term health of their workforce.

Check out our recent insights for more advice on changes to Health and Safety Law. Additionally, explore our Health and Safety Partnership service for round-the-clock support on compliance and risk prevention.