Stone tiles and other decorative stones

Many builders, tilers and decorators are now extensively installing naturally occurring and aesthetically attractive stone products in homes and commercial buildings for both service areas and for decoration. 

Most of these materials contain significant amounts of silica and other minerals that could pose serious health risks if the proper precautions are not adopted when working with these products. The following control measures should be adopted when working with these products:

• using wet cutting methods for all tile cutting, sawing and drilling (e.g. water connected to cutting or grinding tools)
• using particulate respiratory protection (P1 or P2) when cutting or drilling products
• using local exhaust ventilation (booth, hood or tools fitted with extraction) where wet methods are not available or practicable to remove dusts from the breathing zones
• bringing the local exhaust ventilation as close as possible to the dust source
• using a turntable or a bench with wheels so that the operator can rotate the work piece and direct the dust towards the extraction point
• using non-powered tools where practicable to minimise fine dust being generated
• pre-cutting the material at the factory as much as possible to minimise dust during installation work (e.g. kitchens)
• isolating work areas from the  public to reduce potential exposures
• using industrial vacuum cleaners fitted with HEPA filters or wet methods to clean dusty clothing, floors or surfaces
• vacuuming work clothes before leaving work area or dusting off overalls/work clothes by hand next to the extraction system while wearing a respirator
• laundering work clothes at work rather than taking dusty work clothes home. If using a commercial laundry, dampen overalls and place in a labelled plastic bag and inform the laundry that the overalls are contaminated with mineral dust
• non disposable PPE should be cleaned immediately after use.

Note: Do not use dry sweeping or compressed air to clean dusty clothing, floors or surfaces.

If the tiles require shaping and bevelling (e.g. for large commercial installations) with an angle grinder, conduct work in an extracted enclosure and use particulate respiratory protection (at a minimum, P1 or P2) at all times.

Where there is uncertainty about the level of exposure or the effectiveness of controls in cutting, drilling or working stone products, air monitoring may be required to assess the risk.  Where that risk is assessed as being significant (i.e. exposure requires respiratory protection to maintain adequate control) health surveillance should be instituted.

What should importers and suppliers of stone and tile products do?

Naturally occurring stone and tile products can contain asbestos.  Because asbestos poses significant risks to health (asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma), it is illegal to import asbestos containing materials into Australia.  Importers must take steps to ensure that the products they are importing do not contain asbestos. 

Importers or retailers who suspect they may have obtained tile or stone materials which contain any asbestos minerals must immediately stop suppling these products and inform their local workplace health and safety regulator.

Suppliers should make the following information available to purchasers and end users:

• what the product contains
• any potential health hazards associated with working with the products
• how workers can handle these products safely.

What do installers or removers of decorative stacked stone or pebbles need to do?

The use of power tools to cut, grind or polish stone products (e.g. granite, sandstone, decorative stacked stone tiles, reconstituted stone and slate), can generate dust containing a range of mineral particles such as crystalline silica.

Control measures must therefore be implemented to eliminate or minimise as far as practicable exposure of workers and other persons to this dust.

What are the risks?

Inhalation of very fine, respirable mineral particles over a period of time can cause damage to the lungs.  For example, long‑term exposure to respirable crystalline silica particles, created when using power tools to cut or grind stone materials, can cause bronchitis, emphysema, silicosis (scarring of the lungs) and lung cancer. Silicosis can be fatal.

Pebbles and stones

Users of decorative pebbles and stone containing silica are unlikely to face any specific risk to their health as the pebbles are not normally processed in any way which would lead to the release of silica dust.