UK builders face instant shutdown under new dry stone cutting rules

The warning comes as HSE inspectors target construction sites and fabrication workshops to check employers are complying with the new rules. HSE plans to inspect 1,000 such sites over 12 months, with inspections launched last month.
 
Under the new HSE guidance dry cutting is now “unacceptable”. Water suppression is the now legal requirement. Employers must also use control mist, provide appropriate respiratory protective equipment (RPE) and carry out regular health surveillance.

Any firm found breaching the rules faces an instant Prohibition Notice, stopping work on the spot. But the FMB says many small builders may be unaware of the crackdown or the severity of the consequences.

Under the new HSE guidance dry cutting stone is now “unacceptable”. Photograph: iStock

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders, said: “If you’re caught cutting engineered stone dry, your site could be shut down immediately. This is about preventing life-threatening illness – but it also puts huge pressure on small firms who may not know that the rules have changed.”

The FMB also stressed that there is a financial consequence to breaking the rules. For small firms, a site shutdown can trigger missed deadlines, broken contracts and costs that can quickly spiral.

“The message is: comply now or risk facing the consequences,” continued Berry.  

The warning comes as the government rejected calls to ban the engineered stone itself. At a debate on 3 June, social security minister Stephen Timms said: “We are not currently proposing a ban in the UK, because we do not think that is the right approach.”

Ian Lavery, Labour MP for Blyth and Ashington, had called for a “consideration of a ban on high-silica engineered stone” to tackle the risk of silicosis. 

Global demand for engineered stone continues to rise, with the market projected to grow by US$ 46 billion by 2033.

HSE COSHH guidance for working with engineered stone here