Over recent months the rapid onset of incurable lung disease amongst kitchen surface workers has hit the headlines, with the unusual step of a London Coroner writing to the UK’s safety regulator, to demand action and widespread calls for a repeat of the Australian ban on engineered stone and quartz worktops.

BOHS, the leading scientific body in the UK for the prevention of diseases like cancer from the working environment, provided practical guidance on controlling the lethal dust caused when cutting and finishing artificial stone worktops earlier this year.

By adding a simple, practical smartphone training, the health body aims to provide an essential introduction in minutes. This will help workers understand the risks of working with lethal stone dust and the importance of simple, but vital safety measures: https://live.sixtylearn.com/v/website-naMB. HSE has also released a simple one-page guidance document for workers with simple dos and don’ts of working in the industry: New simplified advice for installers of stone worktops – HSE Media Centre

Working closely with industry leaders, the Worktop Fabrication Federation, BOHS wants every worker in the industry to do the training to help them protect their health against incurable silicosis, which can develop within a few years, or even months.

Australia banned the use of engineered stone for kitchen benchtops and plinths, but BOHS points out that poor control of dust from natural stone and quartz, as well as new and untested artificial stone products can give rise to toxic dust as well.

Colin Nottage, a longtime campaigner against dangerous dust exposure and head of Influential Management Group said, “When BOHS approached us and said that something practical was urgently needed to address lack of knowledge in the sector, we knew it was something that we had to do. Within a fortnight, with the support of the WFF, we had put something together for HSE to review. We really hope that this gets seen by every worker in the industry and they take notice before they too become ill.”

Chief Executive of the BOHS, Professor Kevin Bampton comments, “We’ve been calling for action to get ahead of the trend of illness that has been a known problem for a decade. Last year, we ended up putting out technical guidance ourselves, as well as simple information to vulnerable groups. However, workers are not going to read technical stuff, they need something they can look at in their tea break on their phones that gives the information needed to keep themselves healthy. It is such a pointless way to lose your life or livelihood in order to save someone a few quid on kitchen worktop.”

Chris Pateman of WFF adds, “If someone offers you a bargain stone worktop, just remember, the chances are that the young person who cut it will probably have a shorter life expectancy than your worktop will. Only buy from a reputable company, such a Worktop Fabrication Federation Member, ask about low silica products and ask whether the company avoids dry cutting and finishing.”