A stone worktop manufacturer has been fined £60,000 after repeatedly failing to protect workers from hazardous dust and unsafe machinery, prompting fresh warnings for employers across all industries to take their legal health and safety obligations seriously.
Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said they were shocked when workers at Inova Stone Ltd, based in Slough, Berkshire, told them in 2021 that “no-one is in charge of health and safety”.
The inspectors found the workshop floor thick with fine dust, likely containing respirable crystalline silica (RCS), a substance that, when inhaled, can cause silicosis, lung cancer and other life-limiting respiratory conditions.
Kitchen Worktop Demand
RCS is a known hazard in the processing of natural and engineered stone, including quartz and granite, which are increasingly used in home kitchen worktops. The dust is so fine that it can be inhaled deeply into the lungs without being visible in the air.
Stone kitchen worktops are now a common fixture in many homes, and the popularity of engineered stone – often containing over 90% crystalline silica – has raised serious occupational health concerns. A 2024 HSE bulletin warned of the increased risk of life-changing and fatal illnesses among workers exposed to RCS, especially when adequate dust controls such as water suppression or extraction systems are not in place.
Despite nine visits over six years, HSE found little or no improvement in conditions at Inova Stone. In addition to the hazardous dust, workers were exposed to dangerous, unguarded machinery and the risk of injury from heavy stone slabs stored unsafely.
The company had previously received improvement notices in 2017, and four more were issued following the 2021 inspection. Yet failures continued, culminating in a court hearing at Staines Magistrates Court on 20 May 2025. Inova Stone Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act, and to failing to comply with three improvement notices.
HSE Was ‘Stunned’
Principal Inspector Karen Morris said the company repeatedly showed no interest in properly looking after its staff.
“Inova Stone Ltd failed to comply with legal notices requiring them to make improvements and repeatedly showed a lack of commitment to managing health and safety,” she said.
“We were stunned when employees told us that ‘no-one was in charge of health and safety’.
She added that “[a]fter being provided with advice and guidance over several years, the company had plenty of opportunities to comply with the law, yet they consistently failed to do so. The fine imposed should send a clear message to employers that the risks from working with engineered stone must be taken extremely seriously.”
Updated HSE Guidance
In light of growing concern, the HSE has recently updated its guidance for those working with stone worktops, including a “do’s and don’ts” checklist. It includes:
- Do use water suppression and effective local exhaust ventilation (LEV) during cutting or polishing
- Don’t rely on general ventilation or dry sweeping as it spreads dust into the air
- Do provide workers with appropriate respiratory protective equipment (RPE)
- Don’t allow uncontrolled exposure to RCS – even brief exposure can be harmful over time
What Employers Should Do Now
Experts say this case is an urgent reminder for employers – particularly in high-risk industries – to take proactive control of workplace safety. For employers in the stone, construction, and manufacturing sectors, it means:
- Appointing a competent person to manage health and safety, as required under law
- Carrying out a risk assessment and ensuring controls for RCS and other hazards
- Training staff on safe systems of work and the dangers of dust exposure
- Monitoring air quality and health where workers are exposed to RCS
- Ensuring machinery is properly guarded and maintained
Workplace wellbeing experts say robust health and safety management is not only a legal duty but a foundation of employee trust and long-term workforce health.
This case demonstrates the importance of clear leadership, accountability and investment in employee safety. As Principal Inspector Morris noted, employers who ignore warnings and fail to act risk not only financial penalties but irreversible harm to their workforce.