GB – New HSE guidance bans dry cutting of engineered stone

On 11th May 2026, the HSE announced a major package of measures to protect workers from the dangers of engineered stone dust, including silicosis, a deadly-but-preventable lung disease caused by breathing in silica dust released during stone cutting.

The HSE published a new guidance document which specifies that dry cutting of engineered stone is unacceptable and that water suppression techniques, already used by many industry leaders, are how businesses should meet the legal requirement.

The HSE will carry out a 12-month inspection campaign, targeting fabrication sites across Great Britain, with the aim of encouraging compliance with regulatory standards in this area.

The announcement of the new ban on dry fabrication coincides with the beginning of a nationwide inspection program, which will see HSE inspectors conducting more than 1000 visits to fabricators across Great Britain, with enforcement action taken against those failing to meet the required standards. This inspection program will continue for a 12-month period and the first inspections are already underway.

Recent research done by the HSE has found that dry fabrication typically results in exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) five to ten times higher than wet methods using equivalent tools. It has also found that lower-content silica engineered stone is available at the same quality, removing any reason for businesses not to switch to less dangerous products. These findings have led to the HSE’s decision to ban dry fabrication of engineered stone as an unacceptable method of stone cutting.

To provide clarity to businesses and workers, HSE has published its first-ever COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) guidance sheet specifically for engineered stone. The guidance sets out in plain English the legal requirements which employers must observe in relation to engineered stone. These requirements include the following:

• switch to engineered stone with a low silica content;
• use on-tool water suppression, control mist;
• provide appropriate respiratory protective equipment (RPE);
• and carry out regular health surveillance.

Sources:

HSE says no dry cutting of engineered stone ahead of inspection crackdown – published on hse.gov on 11^th May 2026.

Working engineered stone: Control silica risk – published on hse.gov.

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