This example covers engineered stone dust. Almost entirely respirable crystalline silica, it can cause accelerated silicosis within months, and the assessment reflects the strict wet-processing, PAPR and health surveillance controls now expected.
This example COSHH risk assessment has been prepared using the
F-HS5 COSHH Assessment form template - a purpose-built template designed to focus entirely on what matters: identifying the hazards of each substance, recording the controls and PPE that manage them, and confirming exposure is adequately controlled, without any unnecessary fields getting in the way.
The file is supplied in fully editable MS Word format and can be saved to Google Docs if required, with pre-defined styles throughout to match the risk ratings.
The following document labelling is included in the footer:
- Form number and title
- Information-classification
- Version
- Page number / total pages
alphaZ documents - beautifully designed, tried and tested form templates. No junk, jargon or unecessary fields. Simple and usuable form templates
developed over 25 years through practical use in the real world.
Further guidance on managing hazardous substances:
Download this form template with your company name and logo already added!
Document Preparation available with all document toolkits.
To get access to this file please click on Add to Cart to purchase for immediate download. If you have an alphaZ Subscription just click on Download Files to view all the files available to download.
COSHH Assessment - Engineered Stone Dust (Respirable Crystalline Silica / RCS)
This pre-completed COSHH assessment covers the dust generated when engineered stone - quartz composite worktop material such as Silestone, Caesarstone, Cambria, Compac Quartz and Technistone - is cut, ground, polished, drilled or edge finished. The material can contain up to 95% crystalline silica, so the dust is almost entirely respirable crystalline silica (RCS), and exposure can cause accelerated silicosis within months or years rather than decades.
In May 2026 the UK's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published its first COSHH guidance sheet specifically for engineered stone, making clear that dry cutting is unacceptable and that on-tool water suppression is how the legal requirement is met, backed by a nationwide inspection programme running through 2026/27. This assessment reflects those expectations.
What Does This COSHH Assessment Cover?
The assessment is fully completed and ready to use, covering all sections required for a complete hazardous substance risk assessment:
- Substance identification - quartz composite / agglomerate slab material, typically 80–95% crystalline silica bound in polymer resin, SDS reference and physical state
- Health effects and first aid - accelerated silicosis (progressive, irreversible and potentially fatal), lung cancer as a Category 1 carcinogen, plus COPD and kidney disease risk, with referral to occupational health even without symptoms
- Never dry process - dry processing produces exposures 5–10 times higher than wet methods; all tools fitted with water suppression, with the resulting mist controlled as it also contains RCS
- Workplace exposure limits - RCS TWA 0.1 mg/m³, with exposure kept as low as reasonably practicable rather than merely below the limit, and health surveillance for all exposed workers
- CLP hazard classification - Irritant and Long-term health hazard pictograms
- PPE requirements - powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) with APF 20 minimum (APF 40 preferred) for all processing, cleaning and machinery maintenance; coveralls that do not retain dust, contract laundered and never washed at home; goggles, abrasion-resistant gloves and S3 boots
- Emergency procedures - slurry and dust removed while still wet (dried slurry re-releases RCS when disturbed), wet methods or HEPA vacuum only, and no discharge to drains
Who Is This COSHH Assessment For?
This assessment is suitable for any workplace processing or fitting engineered stone, including:
- Worktop fabricators and stone processing workshops
- Kitchen and bathroom worktop installers
- Stonemasonry businesses handling quartz composite
- Shopfitters and joiners working with composite surfaces
Working From the Safety Data Sheet
The assessment reflects the hazards and controls in typical manufacturer safety data sheets and the current HSE position on engineered stone. Check the details against the SDS for the exact material in use, and record your own storage locations, users and site-specific controls in the relevant fields.
COSHH Compliance
This document provides ready-to-use evidence of COSHH compliance and supports occupational health and safety management. The assessment is based on the F-HS5 COSHH Assessment template, is fully editable in Microsoft Word, and can be customised with your company details, site-specific information and review dates.