Respirable dust released while cutting, grinding, polishing, or drilling engineered-stone countertops, which commonly contain very high crystalline-silica content.
Evidence
NIOSH reports that engineered-stone countertop fabricators are at risk of silicosis because engineered stone typically contains more than 90% respirable-crystalline-silica-forming material, and identifies serious associated diseases including lung cancer and COPD.
Source: pdf ↗ · saved source
page 1 · Introduction · 1The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have identified exposure to silica as a health hazard to workers involved in manufacturing, finishing, and installing natural and engineered stone countertop products.
The UK Health and Safety Executive states that cutting or drilling engineered stone creates respirable crystalline silica dust. It says RCS can cause irreversible lung damage, silicosis, COPD, and lung cancer, and that silicosis may worsen after exposure stops.
Source: html ↗ · saved source
Health risks · 2RCS can cause irreversible lung damage, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. Damage to health may be done before any symptoms develop. Silicosis can continue to worsen even after exposure to RCS stops.
HSE's current engineered-stone guidance recommends using the lowest-silica stone, controlling silica-containing mist from water suppression, using appropriate powered air-purifying respirators, and providing health surveillance when regular RCS exposure creates a reasonable likelihood of COPD or silicosis.
Source: html ↗ · saved source
Control the risks · 1work with stone containing the lowest crystalline silica content; control the mist generated by water suppression because it contains crystalline silica; use powered air purifying respirators (PAPR) ... provide health surveillance for workers if they are regularly exposed to RCS dust and there is a reasonable likelihood that COPD or silicosis may develop.
A 2025 NIOSH laboratory report found that dry grinding and cutting engineered stone generated respirable dust and respirable crystalline silica, with the highest normalized generation rates from fine-grit grinding wheels and prominent particle-size modes around 4.7–6.8 micrometres aerodynamic diameter.
Source: pdf ↗ · saved source
page 4 · Abstract — Assessment; Results · 2The laboratory experiments in this study determined crystalline silica content, respirable dust and RCS generation rates, and dust size distributions during dry grinding ... and during dry cutting ... The mean normalized generation rates of respirable dust and RCS were highest for the fine grit grinding cup wheel ... The most prominent mode [was] at an aerodynamic diameter of about 4.7–6.8 μm.