Health and Safety inspectors issue hundreds of breach notices to UK quartz fabricators

A sweeping inspection by the Health and Safety Executive of 226 quartz-cutting firms revealed nearly 400 breaches of health and safety law, leading to 394 enforcement notices that are legally enforceable. Inspectors issued both improvement notices, which set deadlines for corrective action, and prohibition notices that require an immediate halt to dangerous work until the HSE is satisfied. The audit, the first of its kind for 1,000 quartz fabricators, was launched after a campaign highlighted rising cases of silicosis among young stonemasons, with almost 60 diagnoses reported so far.

Early findings show that at least four firms received prohibition notices for practices such as dry cutting and unguarded machinery. The minister overseeing the HSE, Stephen Timms, said it is too early to draw broad conclusions, while MP Liz Jarvis urged faster government action. Full results are expected later in the year, and a possible screening programme for early silicosis detection is being considered.