HSE's nationwide inspection campaign targeting silica dust exposure in the engineered stone industry has already resulted in four enforcement notices, including stop-work orders, as of the end of May 2026.
The campaign is part of a 1,000-plus inspection program running through the 2026/27 period.
What the Campaign Is Targeting
Engineered stone products, commonly used for kitchen worktops, can contain high levels of crystalline silica (up to 95 % ). Cutting, grinding, or polishing the material releases respirable crystalline silica dust.
This dust is invisible to the naked eye and penetrates deep into the lungs. Exposure can cause silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer.
Two young workers have died from silicosis linked to engineered stone in recent years, prompting calls for action from MPs, trade unions, and medical professionals. HSE responded with a two-year research and industry engagement process before issuing this guidance.
"Today's guidance marks our most significant intervention in the engineered stone sector to date," said Mike Calcutt, Deputy Director in HSE's Engagement and Policy Division. "Silicosis is incurable, but it is entirely preventable. No worker should lose their life to a lung disease caused by their job, and that is why we have taken this action."
HSE inspectors are checking for specific control failures under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations. These include inadequate health surveillance, missing or unsuitable respiratory protective equipment, insufficient local exhaust ventilation, and poor machinery guarding.
HSE's First Dedicated Guidance for the Sector
In May 2026, HSE published its first-ever COSHH guidance sheet written specifically for engineered stone work. The guidance sets out four required steps: switching to engineered stone with lower silica content, using on-tool water suppression to control dust, providing appropriate respiratory protective equipment, and carrying out regular health surveillance.
HSE says dry cutting of engineered stone is unacceptable, and its guidance effectively rules it out unless a business can demonstrate equally effective alternative controls. HSE's own research found that dry fabrication typically produces silica dust exposure five to ten times higher than wet methods using equivalent tools.
Why Enforcement Notices Take Time to Appear
HSE publishes enforcement notices roughly five weeks after they're actually served, to allow for the appeals process.
That means the four notices confirmed as of the end of May reflect inspections carried out earlier in the campaign. More are likely to surface as later inspections work through that same reporting lag.
The Bigger Picture on COSHH Enforcement
The engineered stone campaign sits inside a broader HSE push on respiratory hazards for 2026/27. Separate COSHH-focused inspection programs have already run for isocyanate exposure in motor vehicle paint spraying and flour dust exposure in large bakeries, both tied to occupational asthma.
HSE is also working directly with manufacturers, suppliers, and importers to encourage a shift toward lower-silica engineered stone products. The regulator says these products are a viable substitute for high-silica materials already on the market.
Fabricators and installers working with engineered stone or other silica-containing materials can stay ahead of an HSE inspection by keeping COSHH risk assessments and safety data sheets current and easy to produce on request, rather than assembling them after an inspector has already arrived.
References: HSE, "Businesses ordered to stop work with engineered stone after failing safety inspections" | HSE, "HSE says no dry cutting of engineered stone ahead of inspection crackdown" | Health & Safety News, "COSHH Regulations 2026: What Has Changed"
Mehreen Iqbal
Started with a Bachelors in Microbiology, then a Masters in Public Health; Currently a Workplace Safety Expert.