26/06/2026
Important news: Silica dust safety during worktop production
Recent reports have highlighted the potential health issues related to the production of stone worktops, particularly quartz.
The risk to health only occurs when the stone is being cut and the resulting silica dust is inhaled.
๐๐ช๐ฒ ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐๐ ๐๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ป๐๐๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, ๐๐ผ ๐๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ ๐ฑ๐๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐โ ๐ต๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐.๐
All our stone worktops arrive pre-cut from carefully selected suppliers, who have taken, and continue to take, appropriate steps to protect their workforce.
These include:
โช๏ธAdapting their quartz worktop ranges towards lower silica formulations, which release less silica dust when cut.
โช๏ธAutomation of cutting processes in fully enclosed system which are water-suppressed to minimise airborne dust. This accounts for approximately 90% of the cutting and machining operations.
โช๏ธโWet processingโ for manual cutting wherever possible, to prevent dust going into the air.
At present we are comfortable that our suppliers are taking sufficient steps to protect their teams and therefore will continue to offer quartz and other natural stone worktops.
However, our range does include many low-silica and silica-free options. Corian, for example, is a zero-silica worksurface that beautifully replicates the benefits of natural stone.
You can read more about the steps our suppliers are taking, and alternative worksurfaces, in our latest article: https://bit.ly/4xFztfk
If youโre concerned about selecting a worktop that looks good and feels ethically sound, our team are here to help. Visit our kitchen showroom or call us on 01959 53 22 33 to find out more.
