People working for stone companies face the threat of silicosis from dust (respirable crystalline silica) and from using tools that vibrate (hand arm vibration syndrome). It is the duty of companies to minimise such dangers, but it is also the duty of companies to monitor the health of employees who could be exposed to such risks and take action to remove employees from further exposure if symptoms become evident.

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has published new guidance for firms to explain how they should go about monitoring the health of employees. You can view it on line by clicking here.

Reducing the exposure to potentially cancer-causing dust could involve improved dust extraction in the factory and HSE also has guidance on local exhaust ventilation (LEV) on its website. Click here to go to the relevant section of the HSE website.