Danger Dust

THE BRITISH Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS), a leading scientific body and the UK’s Chartered body for Workplace Health Protection has issued specific guidance for anyone working with stone worktops on how to stay safe, healthy and legal.

The move comes in the face of a cluster of younger kitchen worktop finishers contracting aggressive forms of silicosis. This follows a pattern seen around the world of the crippling disease afflicting 30-40 year old men working in the kitchen fitting and fabrication industry and leading to the need for urgent surgery, including heart and lung transplants

The Society does not advocate a ban on artificial stone itself, but wants to raise awareness amongst workers in kitchen materials fabrication and installation that they run high risk of serious long-term health issues when using engineered stone, natural stone, wood and laminate. When installing kitchens, kitchen installers also are likely to encounter hidden asbestos as well.