Health, Safety & Responsible Stone Fabrication
At Prestige Granite & Marble, health and safety is not an afterthought. It is built into everything we do, from material selection and templating through to fabrication, installation and aftercare.
Since 2002, we have manufactured and installed thousands of stone worktops across the North West. Throughout that time, we have remained committed to protecting the health and wellbeing of both our employees and our customers.
Recent media coverage about silica dust and engineered stone has understandably raised questions. It is important to understand that the main health risk relates to workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica during cutting, grinding, drilling or polishing without the right controls in place, not to customers using professionally finished worktops in their homes.
Once a worktop has been professionally fabricated, cleaned and installed, it is safe for normal domestic use. For homeowners, the key question is not whether stone worktops belong in the home, but whether they have been manufactured by a responsible fabricator with the correct systems, controls and working practices in place.
That is why choosing the right supplier matters.
Prestige Granite & Marble operates from a modern manufacturing facility with controlled fabrication procedures, trained personnel and documented health and safety systems. Our approach includes:
- ISO-certified management systems, including Health & Safety and Environmental certifications.
- Professional health and safety consultancy support.
- COSHH assessments for quartz, granite and porcelain worktops.
- Controlled factory fabrication procedures.
- Wet cutting methods only – no dry cutting of engineered stone, in line with current HSE expectations.
- Dust suppression and extraction controls.
- Suitable PPE and RPE for relevant tasks.
- Face fit testing and training where respiratory protection is required.
- Regular occupational health surveillance for employees exposed to relevant risks, as expected under current control measures for silica exposure.
- Ongoing staff training in silica dust awareness, safe handling and safe fabrication techniques.
- Responsible dust, slurry and waste management in line with environmental obligations.
We believe customers should be able to choose beautiful stone surfaces with confidence, knowing their worktops have been supplied, manufactured and installed by an experienced, established and compliant UK fabricator. When you choose Prestige, you are choosing a company with the systems, training, expertise and professional controls required to do the job
FAQs
Are quartz worktops safe in my home?
Yes. Concerns around quartz and engineered stone are mainly linked to fine silica dust created during cutting, grinding, drilling or polishing where proper controls are missing, rather than to the normal use of finished worktops in the home.
Once your quartz worktops have been professionally fabricated, cleaned and correctly installed, they are safe for normal household use.
Do Prestige Granite & Marble cut quartz safely?
Yes. Prestige Granite & Marble follows controlled fabrication procedures designed to minimise exposure to respirable crystalline silica.
We do not dry cut engineered stone, and current HSE guidance makes clear that dry cutting engineered stone is unacceptable because exposures can be far higher than with wet methods and proper controls.
Why should I choose a professional fabricator?
Stone fabrication requires more than supplying slabs. It requires trained operatives, specialist machinery, documented procedures, dust suppression, suitable respiratory protection, health surveillance where appropriate and proper compliance systems, all of which align with current HSE expectations for reducing silica dust exposure.
By choosing Prestige Granite & Marble, you are choosing a fabricator with the infrastructure and professional controls needed to manufacture and install worktops to a high standard.
What if my worktop is chipped or cracked?
A small chip or crack in a quartz worktop does not mean harmful dust is spreading around your home. The main silica-related health concern is airborne respirable dust generated during uncontrolled cutting or grinding processes, not from a finished worktop sitting in normal domestic use.
Damage should still be assessed and repaired where necessary, especially if it affects appearance, performance or long-term durability.
Is it still safe to prepare food on quartz?
Yes. Quartz remains a popular worktop material because it is durable, practical and easy to clean.
Once professionally manufactured, cleaned and installed, quartz worktops are safe for normal household food preparation. As with any kitchen surface, normal cleaning and hygiene practices should always be followed.
Should I remove my quartz worktop?
For the overwhelming majority of homeowners, no. The current concern is about protecting workers from respirable crystalline silica during fabrication and processing, not about customers living with professionally installed worktops at home
If your worktop is in good condition and has been professionally installed, there is generally no reason to remove it because of silica-related concerns.
Do Prestige dry cut engineered stone?
No. Prestige does not dry cut engineered stone, and current HSE guidance states that dry cutting engineered stone is unacceptable.
Our fabrication methods are designed to reduce dust exposure through controlled processes, suppression measures, appropriate PPE/RPE and safe working practices.