The Short Answer

Cutting and grinding and finishing stone can create fine silica dust and breathing it can pose serious health risks. At Precious Marble we are working toward a factory environment with zero crystalline silica exposure. That means using water-fed tools and dust-extraction systems where appropriate and maintaining our equipment and keeping work areas clean and training our team. We also provide suitable respiratory protection whenever it is needed.

This page explains what each of those steps means and why it matters. We are reviewing how we work and strengthening the steps we take to reduce dust exposure so you will find honest language here about a goal we are working toward rather than a claim that we have already reached it.

From Slab to Finished Worktop

A worktop passes through several stages before it reaches your kitchen. Dust can arise at more than one of them so our approach covers the whole journey rather than a single step. The table below sets out where dust can arise and the measures we work toward at each stage.

Treating the journey as a whole matters because dust control only works when every part supports the others. A well chosen tool is little use if it is poorly maintained and the best equipment cannot replace a team that understands how to use it.

Water-Fed Tools and Dust Extraction

Water and extraction are the two main ways of keeping fine dust out of the air. Water-fed tools use water at the point where the stone is being worked so that dust is captured before it can be breathed in. Dust-extraction systems draw dust away from the people doing the work. We use both where appropriate and we are strengthening the way we use them as part of our ongoing review.

HSE has said that dry cutting of engineered stone is unacceptable and its guidance points businesses toward water suppression. Our approach sits alongside that. If you would like the detail our guide to Water-Fed Tools and Dust Extraction explains how the two methods work and why they work best together.

Looking After the Equipment

Controls only work when the equipment behind them is in good order. That is why maintaining our equipment is part of our commitment rather than an afterthought. Water-fed tools and extraction systems are used day after day on hard materials and they need regular attention to keep doing their job. A tool that is worn or blocked can let dust escape even when it looks as though it is working.

Training and Protective Equipment

People are at the heart of safe working. We train our team so they understand why the steps exist and how to follow them. Where respiratory protection is needed we provide suitable equipment and it is there whenever it is needed. Protective equipment is never a substitute for controlling dust at the source but it is an important part of looking after the people who do the work. Our guide to Training and Protective Equipment goes into more detail.

What It Means for Your Worktop

Working safely is not at odds with delivering a beautiful worktop. The goal is the same worktop made by a team that is protected while they make it. Because safe fabrication practices remain important we continue to treat every material with care whether it is a conventional surface or a low or zero silica one.

We are also committed to offering products identified as low or zero in crystalline silica content so our customers can make informed choices. Zero and low silica worktops can reduce the silica related risk for fabricators and installers although safe dust control practices are still essential. Our guide to What Are Low Silica Worktops explains what these surfaces are.

To see how every part of the subject fits together our Low Silica Worktops Guide gathers the whole series in one place.

Questions About How We Work

Do you claim to have zero silica exposure in your factory already?

No. Zero crystalline silica exposure is the goal we are working toward. We are reviewing how we work and strengthening the steps we take to reduce dust exposure and we would rather be honest about that than overstate where we are today.

Does a low or zero silica worktop change how you work?

Safe fabrication practices remain important whichever material is used so we continue to treat every material with care. Choosing a lower silica surface can reduce the silica related risk for fabricators and installers but it does not replace good dust control.

Can I ask you about your approach before I order?

Of course. We welcome questions about how we work and we will share product information to help explain the materials we offer.

If Work Is Needed After Fitting

A finished worktop in daily use is not where the concern with silica dust lies. The concern relates to dust created when stone is cut and ground and finished. If a worktop ever needs cutting or trimming after it has been fitted that work should be done with proper dust controls by people who are trained to work safely. It is best not to cut or drill a worktop yourself without those controls. Our guide to Is Quartz Safe in Your Kitchen explains this in more detail.

Why We Are Open About This

Talking openly about silica dust is not always comfortable for a stone business but we think it is the right thing to do. Our team deserve to be protected and our customers deserve to understand how their worktop is made. Being clear about what we do and what we are still working on builds the kind of trust that a long term relationship with customers depends on.

Guidance and Inspections

In May 2026 the Health and Safety Executive published guidance on engineered stone and it is running an inspection programme across the sector. That is guidance and inspections and it is not a ban on quartz. We welcome the focus on stone dust because it points in the same direction as our own commitment. Our article on HSE Engineered Stone Guidance Explained explains what the guidance covers.

Where to Go Next

If you are choosing a fabricator our guide to Choosing a Safe Worktop Fabricator sets out the questions to ask. For quick answers to common questions visit our Low and Zero Silica Worktops FAQs page and for the full statement behind our approach read Our Commitment to a Safer Workplace.

Speak to the Precious Marble Team

If you would like to know more about how we cut and finish stone safely we are happy to talk it through. You can also browse the surfaces on our Low and Zero Silica Worktops page or visit our Elstow showroom.

To ask a question or arrange a quote, call our team on 01234 348 590 or request a quote online. We will talk you through the options and answer anything you would like to know before you decide.