What HSE inspections tell us about the engineered stone industry
Since launching the engineered stone campaign earlier this year, HSE has inspected more than 400 businesses working with engineered stone across Great Britain.
More inspections are taking place every week, and our picture of the industry and its practices is becoming clearer as we gather further intelligence from inspections on the ground.
Of the sites inspected so far:
- 44% are fully complying with the guidance and HSE has not had to take any action
- 38% of businesses have received a formal enforcement notice
- a further 18% have been issued written advice for contraventions – this is where we believe action is needed but the concerns are not serious enough to warrant an enforcement notice
Watch the video of HM Inspector, Harvey Wild, where he explains:
- what inspectors are finding
- the common issues they have identified
- the steps businesses can take to protect workers' health
Why engineered stone controls matter
Engineered stone is commonly used for kitchen worktops and bathroom surfaces and can contain very high levels of respirable crystalline silica (RCS).
Exposure to silica dust can cause serious and life-changing health conditions including silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. While these diseases are irreversible, they are preventable when the correct controls are in place.
For those wanting to build their knowledge further, HSE's one-day training course on RCS is available both face-to-face and in-house.
Silica is found in many common construction materials, and cutting or grinding these products can generate fine dust that is harmful when inhaled.
The course will give an overview on the design and implementation of appropriate exposure control approaches, the role of exposure monitoring in managing RCS risk and real-world insights on barriers to achieving adequate risk control and common failings.
The next in-person course will be held at HSE's Science and Research Centre, in Buxton, on 17 November 2026.
Find out more and book: Respirable crystalline silica (RCS): controlling the risks.
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