Trendy engineered stone slabs, primarily quartz, have soared in popularity among homeowners having kitchen refurbishments in recent years.
It the first official guidance related to the man-made stone, the Health and Safety Executive(HSE) warns employers they must prevent workers breathing in toxic silica dust.
It is an incurable and deadly lung disease, with at least 18 UK cases so far identified, the youngest in a man aged just 24.
His death followed that of Wessam al Jundi, 28, who died in hospital in May while waiting for a lung transplant in what is believed to be the first confirmed death from silicosis in a UK engineered stone worker.
Marek Marzec, a father-of-three, died in December from silicosis weeks after speaking to The i Paper – and just seven months after he was initially diagnosedIt also highlights the dangers of practices such as dry-cutting without water suppression tools to dampen respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust.
Kitchen revamp stone blamed for deadly lung disease 'should be banned'
Read MoreThe advice comes after The i Paper revealed the UK’s first cases of silicosis in young stonemasons who inhaled toxic dust from cutting high-silica engineered stone last year.
Last week, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) became the first official body to call for engineered stone to be banned, saying it would “prevent hundreds of deaths”.
The workplace safety body is also understood to be reviewing the circumstances of use of engineered stone and the latest global evidence to consider what additional controls or action may be necessary.
The i Paper revealed the UK’s first cases of engineered stone silicosis in young stonemasons at the start of 2024 – now unions and doctors have called for a ban on the man-made material
Mike Calcutt, deputy director of health and work at the health watchdog, said on Tuesday: “HSE will continue to work with industry stakeholders to raise awareness of managing the risks from exposure to respirable crystalline silica.
“HSE’s inspectors have often found poor management of control measures including water suppression, dust extraction, equipment maintenance, cleaning and RPE provision.
Silicosis occurs when silica dust is inhaled, causing inflammation in the lungs, which gradually leads to hardened and scarred tissue which means the lung cannot function properly.
People with the condition may eventually find everyday activities, including walking or climbing stairs, very difficult.
Rob Miguel, national health and safety adviser at Unite the Union has previously called the the global artificial stone silicosis outbreak a “tragedy”.
“There is no need for high-silica stone use in the UK and Unite fully supports a ban,” Mr Miguel added.
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