Stonemasonry workers urged to up safety ante to prevent personal injury

Posted 12/03/2010

Stonework firms in Britain have been urged to make sure their health and safety regulations are up-to-date in order to prevent personal injury in the sector.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is running a campaign with special events to highlight the potential dangers that exist in stonemasonry, which is currently in demand from consumers.

It pointed out that there have been five fatalities in the past five years, resulting from factors like inhalation of dust, vibrating power tools and falling stone.

“Some of the hazards in this area of work are easy to recognise, such as incorrectly stacked slabs … But there are other less obvious hazards … which can lead to permanent ill-health,” warned HSE inspector Steve Kirton.

Separate HSE statistics show that there are 30,000 deaths a year from chronic lung disease in the UK, while two million people are affected by problems in their hands and arms due to vibrating tools.

Excessive noise could also be a problem in the stonemasonry sector, with more than a million workers across the economy in the UK exposed to levels that could put their hearing at risk.