19 December 2019
During the latter part of 2019 the Health and Safety Inspectorate carried out a series of proactive visits to increase awareness of health issues that can potentially affect stone workers. The initiative focused on the three main health effects discussed below.
In total 24 separate visits were undertaken covering 21 different businesses in the industry, including both stone masons and monumental masons.
The specific areas this initiative focused on during the visits were:
- Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) in the dust breathed in by stone workers
- Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) from the use of vibratory power tools
- Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) from lifting and moving stone
The general findings of the initiative were as follows:
Respirable Crystalline Silica
The majority of businesses visited reduced cutting of stone (and hence generation of dust) to a minimum by having stone pre-sized before delivery and when stone was cut they used splitting tools or water suppression on petrol saws.
Verbal advice was provided that dust masks worn to protect against RCS should be FFP3 and should be face-fitted. If wearers were unshaven or had beards they were advised that their protection would not be effective and were advised to investigate other types of respirators that do not rely on a tight seal to the face.
Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome
Most businesses had an awareness of the risks presented to health by the use of vibratory power tools but very few had actually carried out a risk assessment to identify how long tools such as breakers and grinders could safely be used for. Most relied on vague controls such as job rotation and taking frequent breaks.
Businesses were advised to use the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) hand-arm vibration calculator (see links below) to calculate actual exposure times and therefore provide better assessment of risk
Musculoskeletal Disorders
The visits carried out during the initiative identified good awareness of the risks of moving and handling stone. Risk assessments and control measures in this area were generally good and work well planned.
Further information
Silica dust in stonemasonry on the UK HSE website
Noise and vibration in stonemasonry UK HSE website
Musculoskeletal disorders on the UK HSE website
Should you require any further information, contact the Health and Safety Inspectorate on 447300 or via email us
gov.je