The Short Answer

Good equipment only protects people when they understand how to use it. That is why training is a core part of our commitment to work toward a factory environment with zero crystalline silica exposure. We train our team and we provide suitable respiratory protection whenever it is needed. Together those two steps sit alongside water-fed tools and dust-extraction systems where appropriate and well maintained equipment and clean work areas.

This page explains why training and protective equipment matter and what good practice looks like. We are reviewing how we work and strengthening the steps we take to reduce dust exposure so the language here is about a goal we are working toward rather than a finished job.

Why Training Matters

Fine silica dust can be created when stone is cut and ground and finished and breathing it can pose serious health risks. The people who do that work are closest to the dust so they are the ones whose understanding matters most. A team that knows why a control exists is far more likely to use it properly and to notice when something is not working.

Training is also what turns equipment into protection. Water-fed tools and dust extraction only help when they are set up and used correctly. Respiratory protection only helps when it is the right kind and fits properly and is worn at the right times. Without training even the best equipment can fail to do its job.

What Good Training Covers

Training for people who work with stone should cover the whole picture and not just one piece of equipment. The table below sets out the topics that matter most and why each one is important.

These topics link closely to the rest of our approach. Our guides to Water-Fed Tools and Dust Extraction and How We Cut Stone Safely explain the controls that training helps the team to use well.

Respiratory Protection

Respiratory protection is equipment worn over the nose and mouth to help prevent fine dust being breathed in. It is an important layer of protection for anyone who works with stone and we provide suitable respiratory protection whenever it is needed. It works alongside the other measures rather than instead of them. The best approach is always to control dust at the source with water and extraction and then to use respiratory protection as a further safeguard.

Suitable is the key word. Different jobs and different levels of dust call for different kinds of protection so the equipment has to match the task. It also has to be used properly. Good practice is to check equipment before each use and to replace filters and disposable items as the manufacturer advises or when they become damaged or clogged.

Building a Safety Culture

Training works best in a workplace where safety is part of everyday conversation. When people feel able to ask questions and to point out a problem the controls stay effective. A culture like that is built by leaders who take the subject seriously and by a team who look out for one another. It is the kind of workplace we are working toward as part of our commitment.

Protection Is the Last Line of Defence

It can be tempting to think that a mask solves the problem. It does not. Respiratory protection is the last line of defence and it only protects the person wearing it. Controlling dust at the source protects everyone in the workshop and it is why we put water-fed tools and dust-extraction systems first where appropriate and maintain our equipment and keep work areas clean.

Looking After the Health of the Team

Health bodies recommend regular health checks known as health surveillance for workers who are regularly exposed to silica dust so that any problem can be found early. It forms part of the wider picture of protecting people at work alongside good dust control and training. Silicosis is a serious lung disease caused by breathing in fine crystalline silica dust. Our guide to What Is Silicosis explains the condition in plain language.

Training Is Never Finished

People join and equipment changes and understanding improves over time so training cannot be a one off event. A commitment to a safer workplace means returning to the subject regularly and checking that what the team knows is up to date. That is part of what we mean when we describe this as an ongoing commitment and say we will keep looking for ways to make our workplace safer for our team and our customers.

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

What to Ask a Fabricator About Training

If you are choosing a fabricator it is reasonable to ask how their team is trained and what protective equipment they provide. A good answer is specific. It explains what the training covers and how it is kept up to date and what respiratory protection is used and when. Vague answers are worth probing. Our guide to Choosing a Safe Worktop Fabricator sets out more questions to ask.

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. Suitable respiratory protection and health checks for workers are among the measures the guidance covers. Our article on HSE Engineered Stone Guidance Explained explains it in more detail.

What It Means for Customers

A trained and protected team is part of what you are choosing when you choose Precious Marble. 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.

Where to Go Next

For quick answers to common questions visit our Low and Zero Silica Worktops FAQs page. For the full statement behind our approach read Our Commitment to a Safer Workplace and for reassurance about a worktop once it is fitted read Is Quartz Safe in Your Kitchen.

Speak to the Precious Marble Team

If you would like to know more about how we train and protect our team 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.