13th May 2026

HSE Tightens Focus On Silica Dust: What Today’s Guidance Means for Employers

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced a major package of measures aimed at protecting workers from the dangers of engineered stone dust, including silicosis, a deadly but preventable lung disease caused by breathing in respirable crystalline silica (RCS).

As part of the initiative, HSE inspectors will carry out more than 1,000 inspections of businesses across Great Britain over the next 12 months, with enforcement action expected against employers failing to meet the required standards. The first inspections are already underway.

The announcement signals a significant increase in regulatory focus on silica exposure and reinforces the importance of effective dust control measures across construction, manufacturing and fabrication industries.

Why Silica Dust Remains A Major Concern

Respirable crystalline silica is generated when materials containing silica are cut, drilled, polished or ground. The dust particles are extremely fine and can penetrate deep into the lungs when inhaled.

Repeated exposure can lead to serious and irreversible health conditions, including:

• Silicosis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Lung cancer
• Occupational asthma

HSE estimates that exposure to silica dust contributes to more than 500 deaths every year among construction workers alone.

Industries most commonly affected include:

• Construction
• Stone masonry
• Worktop manufacturing and installation
• Ceramics
• Quarrying
• Demolition

Engineered stone products have been identified as a particularly high-risk area due to their exceptionally high silica content, which can significantly increase exposure levels during cutting and polishing activities.

What Has Changed In The Latest HSE guidance?

The updated guidance places stronger emphasis on employer responsibilities under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations, particularly around exposure prevention and health surveillance.

HSE has made clear that respiratory protective equipment (RPE) alone is not enough to control the risk.

Instead, employers are expected to prioritise a combination of control measures, including:

• On-tool dust extraction
• Water suppression systems
• Local exhaust ventilation (LEV)
• Effective housekeeping procedures
• Avoiding dry cutting methods wherever possible

The regulator has also updated its COSHH essentials guidance sheets, providing task-specific advice for activities such as drilling, chasing, scabbling and cutting paving materials.

First COSHH Guidance For Engineered Stone

In a significant development, HSE has published its first dedicated COSHH guidance sheet specifically for engineered stone work.

The guidance is intended to provide clearer direction for both employers and workers and outlines the practical steps businesses must take to reduce exposure risks.

Key requirements include:

• Using engineered stone products with lower silica content where possible
• Implementing on-tool water suppression systems
• Controlling airborne mist and dust
• Providing suitable respiratory protective equipment
• Carrying out regular health surveillance for exposed workers

HSE has stressed that these measures are not optional; they are legal requirements under COSHH regulations.

Enforcement Activity Expected To Increase

The latest announcement demonstrates that occupational lung disease remains a key enforcement priority for the regulator.

Businesses working with silica-containing materials should expect increased scrutiny over the coming year, particularly those involved in engineered stone fabrication and installation.

Employers who fail to adequately manage exposure risks could face:

• Improvement notices
• Prohibition notices
• Prosecution
• Significant financial penalties

For organisations operating in higher-risk sectors, now is the time to review risk assessments, inspect dust control systems, assess RPE arrangements and ensure appropriate health surveillance programmes are in place.

A Growing Health Issue For The Industry

Unlike many workplace injuries, illnesses caused by silica exposure can take years to develop. By the time symptoms appear, the damage is often permanent.

HSE’s latest guidance reinforces the need for employers to move beyond basic compliance and adopt a proactive approach to dust management and worker protection.

With inspections already underway and enforcement activity set to intensify throughout the next 12 months, businesses that fail to take silica exposure seriously may face both legal and reputational consequences.