New COSHH Guidance says "no dry cutting of engineered stone"

On 11th May 2026, the Health and Safety Executive (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 package includes the publication of new guidance making clear 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. 

Over the next 12 months, HSE inspectors will conduct more than 1,000 visits to fabricators across Great Britain, with enforcement action taken against those failing to meet the required standards. The first inspections are already underway.  

The key points to remember from the guidance are:

• If you are going to use engineered stone, use stone with the lowest silica content.

• Engineered stone should never be dry cut - water must be used to suppress the dust.

• Use powered air purifying respirators (PAPR) with an assigned protection factor (APF) of at least 20.

• RPE must also be worn when cleaning work areas or maintaining machinery.

• Regularly review your control measures to check that they are still effective.

• Provide health surveillance for workers who are regularly exposed to silica dust.