Buying a Quartz Worktop? Here’s Why You Should Care About How It’s Made

August 19, 2025

Kitchen Styles and Trends

Quartz worktops are the crown jewel of modern kitchens - sleek, durable, and undeniably beautiful. But behind every polished surface is a manufacturing process that, if not done safely, can have devastating consequences for the people who make and install them.

At the heart of the issue is crystalline silica - a naturally occurring mineral found in granite, engineered stone, and other stone products. In solid form, it’s completely safe. The danger comes when the stone is cut, ground, drilled, or polished, releasing tiny airborne particles called respirable crystalline silica (RCS).

Why it matters to you as a homeowner

Breathing in RCS can cause irreversible lung scarring (silicosis), chronic breathing problems, and even lung cancer. While you, the end user, won’t be exposed, the workers making and fitting your worktop could be - unless their employer is committed to world-class safety standards.

The Hidden Difference Between Suppliers

Not all companies treat health and safety equally.

Some rogue operators cut corners - literally - by skipping dust suppression, ignoring air quality testing, and failing to provide staff with adequate protective equipment. This not only puts lives at risk but also drives down costs unfairly, making it harder for responsible businesses to compete.

By contrast, reputable manufacturers like Gemini Worktops go above and beyond UK legal requirements under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002.

What a Responsible Manufacturer Looks Like

Here’s what the best in the business do:

Purpose-Built Facilities: Designed specifically for engineered stone, with water channels, advanced machinery, and safe lifting equipment.
Water-Suppressed Cutting & Polishing: Eliminates dust at the source before it reaches the air.
Regular Air Quality Testing: Ensures exposure levels are well below the legal limit (Gemini Worktops enforces its own internal standard at just 50% of the UK Workplace Exposure Limit).
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Face-fitted masks or powered air respirators for extra protection.
Comprehensive Staff Training: Teaching workers about silica risks and how to protect themselves.
A Culture of Care: From factory floor to installation teams, safety is woven into every process.

Questions You Should Ask Before You Buy

When you’re planning your dream kitchen, ask your supplier:

How do you control silica dust during manufacturing and installation?
Do you use water-suppressed machinery and on-tool extraction?
How often do you test air quality in your facilities?
What training do your employees receive on silica hazards?
Do you meet or exceed HSE safety guidelines?

If they can’t answer confidently - or if they dodge the question - consider it a red flag.

Your Role in Raising the Standard

Choosing a worktop is about more than colour and cost. By supporting companies that prioritise safety, you’re helping to drive rogue operators out of the market and protecting the skilled craftspeople who bring your kitchen vision to life.

Beautiful kitchens start with safe hands. When you choose a kitchen worktop from a company that cares about its people, you’re investing in quality, ethics, and peace of mind.