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This course will provide delegates with a foundation of environmental and sustainability knowledge to build on.

Delivered by SSG as an IOSH-approved training provider. Delegates who successfully complete the course receive an official IOSH Managing Safely certificate.

The NEBOSH National General Certificate is the most widely held health and safety qualification of its kind in the UK.

This UKATA course will teach delegates to work safely with asbestos and ensure theirs and their colleagues' safety.

This course improves knowledge and practical understanding of hazards, risks and controls of working at height.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published new <a target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="link" href="https://www.hse.gov.uk/stonemasonry/working-engineered-stone-control-silica-risk.htm">guidance</a> aimed at protecting workers from the dangers of engineered stone dust exposure, following growing concerns around cases of silicosis linked to stone fabrication and processing.The updated guidance makes clear that dry cutting of engineered stone is now considered “unacceptable”, with water suppression techniques expected to be used to meet legal requirements under COSHH regulations.The announcement marks one of the HSE’s most significant interventions in the sector to date and will be backed by a nationwide inspection programme, with more than 1,000 workplace inspections planned across Great Britain over the next 12 months.<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2></h2><h2 id="8f859492-db94-4cd9-a6e6-ce05421ac292" data-toc-id="8f859492-db94-4cd9-a6e6-ce05421ac292">Why engineered stone dusk is a serious risk</h2>Engineered stone, commonly used in kitchen and bathroom worktops, can contain up to 95% crystalline silica. When materials are cut, polished or processed, fine respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust can become airborne and inhaled by workers.Exposure to silica dust can lead to serious and irreversible health conditions including:<ul><li>Silicosis</li><li>Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)</li><li>Lung cancer</li><li>Kidney disease</li></ul>Unlike traditional stone-related illnesses that may take decades to develop, recent cases linked to engineered stone have shown workers developing silicosis within months or years of exposure.Silicosis is incurable - but entirely preventable.<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2 id="c1faebd1-544d-4333-883c-ad7c7b12cb79" data-toc-id="c1faebd1-544d-4333-883c-ad7c7b12cb79">What the HSE guidance says</h2>Following two years of research and industry engagement, the HSE has introduced dedicated COSHH guidance specifically for engineered stone processing.The guidance outlines several key expectations for employers, including:<ul><li>Eliminating dry cutting methods</li><li>Using on-tool water suppression systems</li><li>Selecting lower silica-content engineered stone where possible</li><li>Providing suitable respiratory protective equipment (RPE)</li><li>Carrying out regular health surveillance</li><li>Ensuring employees receive adequate information, instruction and training</li></ul>The HSE’s research found that dry fabrication methods can expose workers to silica dust levels five to ten times higher than equivalent wet cutting processes.<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2 id="e8885067-7a1c-42ed-a83f-52f2afa2f5d4" data-toc-id="e8885067-7a1c-42ed-a83f-52f2afa2f5d4">Increased enforcement activity</h2>The HSE has confirmed that inspectors are already carrying out visits to fabricators and businesses working with engineered stone materials.Businesses failing to implement suitable controls may face enforcement action.<figure data-type="blockquoteFigure"><div><blockquote>“Silicosis is incurable, but it is entirely preventable. No worker should lose their life to a lung disease caused by their job.”</blockquote><figcaption>Mike Calcutt, Deputy Director in HSE’s Engagement and Policy Division</figcaption></div></figure>The HSE has also stressed that businesses cutting corners not only place workers at risk but also undermine companies investing in proper health and safety standards.<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2 id="4f31cd46-5c2c-40f1-b75d-72772aac7f75" data-toc-id="4f31cd46-5c2c-40f1-b75d-72772aac7f75">More than compliance</h2>While the guidance focuses heavily on engineering controls and safer working methods, it also highlights the importance of workplace culture, awareness and proactive risk management.Employers should now be reviewing:<ul><li>Dust control measures</li><li>COSHH assessments</li><li>RPE suitability and face fit testing</li><li>Worker training and awareness</li><li>Health surveillance arrangements</li><li>Maintenance and inspection processes</li></ul>The new guidance highlights how occupational health risks can develop gradually and without obvious warning signs, reinforcing the importance of proactive prevention and early intervention.It also brings renewed focus to employers’ wider legal responsibilities under health and safety law. Under Regulation 7 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, every employer must appoint one or more competent persons to support health and safety compliance - regardless of business size.<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2 id="9058871d-f7e0-4cea-9138-5cc626dd7dbb" data-toc-id="9058871d-f7e0-4cea-9138-5cc626dd7dbb">How SSG can support your business</h2>We support businesses in managing occupational health and workplace safety risks through practical training, consultancy and compliance support.Our services include:<ul><li>COSHH training and support</li><li>Occupational health awareness</li><li>Health and safety consultancy</li><li>Risk assessments and safe systems of work</li><li>Workplace compliance training</li><li>Respiratory protective equipment awareness and Face fit courses</li></ul>If your business works with engineered stone, silica-containing materials or dust-generating processes, now is the time to review your controls and ensure your teams are protected.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="link" href="https://www.ssg.co.uk/contact">Get in touch with our team to find out more.</a>

New HSE guidance on engineered stone dust highlights the dangers of silica exposure, bans dry cutting methods, and reinforces COSHH requirements to help prevent silicosis and improve workplace safety.

Engineered Stone Dust: What the new HSE guidance means for businesses and worker safety

A recent study of 2,000 UK employees has identified the habits that annoy co-workers the most!The research conducted by Essential Workwear found that 10% of workers admit to regularly leaving dirty cups and dishes lying around and a third of workers dislike colleagues that do not tidy up after themselves.22% of workers get annoyed by colleagues that microwave smelly food at lunchtimes, exacerbating the risk of arguments in communal break out areas!The research also identified the most inappropriate behaviours of co-workers. The top 5 inappropriate behaviours are:<ol><li>Flirting with colleagues</li><li>Discussing a dislike of a colleague</li><li>Scrolling social media</li><li>Taking smoking breaks</li><li>Putting on makeup or doing their hair at work</li></ol>22% of UK workers say they find it annoying when a colleague skips a tea round!<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h3 id="51cdfba8-526d-4d0e-b068-8b7e6450914e" data-toc-id="51cdfba8-526d-4d0e-b068-8b7e6450914e">How should you deal with annoying office behaviours?</h3><ul><li>Do not let it build up as you risk letting out your frustrations through an emotional reaction at a later point about something relatively minor.</li><li>Have a gentle conversation that focuses on your productivity and not the personality of the co-worker. Instead of telling someone they are “being annoying” try explaining that you are finding it difficult to focus on a complex task. Perhaps ask if your colleague could wear headphones for a while. Such an approach helps avoid direct confrontation.</li><li>If your issue relates to the laziness of a co-worker then raise it with your manager. Focus on the impact the behaviour has on you and your productivity. Explain how your co-workers delays or poor-quality output affect your ability to do your job well. Taking this approach focuses on the practical success of the organisation rather than the character of your co-worker. This approach is more likely to achieve the change you are wanting.</li><li>If you are feeling social rejection for being omitted from a tea round then that is a natural reaction because your brain processes social exclusion in the same area that it processes physical pain. So don’t be afraid to express how being excluded by co-workers makes you feel.</li></ul>Source: Gavin Parrott

A recent study of 2,000 UK employees has identified the habits that annoy co-workers the most!

Workplace etiquette – what most bothers work colleagues?

Every year on 28 April, the World Day for Safety and Health at Work shines a spotlight on a simple but critical message: safety at work is not optional - it’s fundamental.While World Health Day focuses on overall wellbeing, this day brings that message firmly into the workplace, reminding businesses that health and safety are shared responsibilities that require consistent action, not just awareness.For organisations across the UK, particularly those operating in higher-risk environments, it’s a moment to ask an important question:<figure data-type="blockquoteFigure"><div><blockquote>Are we doing enough to protect our people every day?</blockquote><figcaption></figcaption></div></figure><div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2 id="89a35f13-6ce7-49fd-9e40-78dbc72b04b4" data-toc-id="89a35f13-6ce7-49fd-9e40-78dbc72b04b4">From awareness to accountability</h2>If World Health Day is about understanding risk, the World Day for Safety and Health at Work is about managing it.It’s about turning awareness into clear processes, strong leadership and practical action.Workplace safety is not just about policies or paperwork, it’s about:<ul><li>How risks are identified and controlled</li><li>How teams are trained and supported</li><li>How leaders set expectations and lead by example</li></ul>Ultimately, it’s about creating an environment where safety is built into daily operations, not revisited only when something goes wrong.<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2 id="62722e46-f467-4b07-b677-9970a1386384" data-toc-id="62722e46-f467-4b07-b677-9970a1386384">The gap between compliance and culture</h2>Most businesses understand their legal obligations. They complete risk assessments, deliver training and maintain documentation - but compliance alone doesn’t guarantee a safe workplace. The real difference lies in culture.A strong health and safety culture means:<ul><li>Employees feel confident to speak up about risks</li><li>Managers actively reinforce safe behaviours</li><li>Training is practical, relevant and ongoing</li><li>Safety is considered in every decision, not just audits</li></ul>Bridging the gap between compliance and culture is where many organisations see the biggest improvements in safety performance.<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2 id="94fcb28f-7923-4584-8ed7-e8f8845e4309" data-toc-id="94fcb28f-7923-4584-8ed7-e8f8845e4309">Why consistency matters</h2>Unlike one-off hazards, workplace risks are constantly evolving. New projects, changing teams, and increased workloads, especially during busy periods, can introduce new challenges. This is why health and safety management must be continuous.Key areas to regularly review include:<ul><li>Training and competency - Are employees up to date and confident?</li><li>Risk assessments - Do they reflect current working conditions?</li><li>Policies and procedures - Are they practical and being followed?</li><li>Incident response - Are lessons being learned and shared?</li></ul>Consistency in these areas helps prevent incidents and builds long-term resilience.<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2 id="d19120b5-9da4-4c64-ae9a-a11a0e87dc0d" data-toc-id="d19120b5-9da4-4c64-ae9a-a11a0e87dc0d">Bringing safety, training and support together</h2>Effective workplace safety doesn’t sit in isolation - it relies on a combination of training, consultancy and ongoing support.Businesses often benefit from:<ul><li>Health and safety training to build awareness and competence</li><li>Consultancy support for audits, investigations and risk management</li><li>Retained advisory services to guide day-to-day decision-making</li><li>Support in demonstrating compliance and best practice</li></ul>When these elements work together, organisations move beyond simply meeting requirements - they create safer, more confident workplaces.<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2 id="5b2f3825-8aab-4bb4-b861-8ae41ac7d5fd" data-toc-id="5b2f3825-8aab-4bb4-b861-8ae41ac7d5fd">A practical moment to reflect</h2>The World Day for Safety and Health at Work is an opportunity to pause and take stock. Not just of what’s in place, but how effective it really is.Ask yourself:<ul><li>Are we confident in our current approach to workplace safety?</li><li>Do our teams understand their responsibilities?</li><li>Are we preventing risks, or reacting to them?</li></ul>These are the questions that turn awareness into meaningful improvement.<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2 id="cd2794ee-ec5c-40b4-9c5f-ec518801b9bf" data-toc-id="cd2794ee-ec5c-40b4-9c5f-ec518801b9bf">Building safer workplaces, every day</h2>Workplace safety is not defined by a single day - it’s shaped by the actions taken every day that follows.By investing in health and safety training, consultancy and proactive risk management, businesses can protect their people, strengthen compliance and improve performance - because when safety becomes part of your culture, it doesn’t just reduce risk, it creates a stronger, more resilient organisation.<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2 id="4254409f-8dcb-4ed4-815b-512d0404d5bc" data-toc-id="4254409f-8dcb-4ed4-815b-512d0404d5bc">Need support with your workplace safety approach?</h2>Whether you need practical training, expert consultancy, retained advisory support, or help demonstrating your compliance credentials, we help businesses bring training, compliance and expert support together - so you can move beyond box-ticking and build a safer workplace.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="link" href="https://www.ssg.co.uk/contact">Get in touch with our team to find out more.</a>

World Day for Safety and Health at Work is a reminder that safety goes beyond compliance, it’s about building a culture that protects your people every day.

World Day for Safety and Health at Work: Turning awareness into action

urn:ogc:def:crs:OGC:1.3:CRS84

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The course information was interesting and the delivery of the course was great. Jon was a fantastic trainer, very informative and very engaging. S. Braddon - Babcock International

A fantastic trainer, very informative and very engaging.

Honest, relatable and realistic training with real world examples. Very well delivered. T. Chapman - Becton Dickinson

Equality and Diversity in the Workplace - Manuela Grossmann

Relatable and realistic training with real world examples

I really enjoyed how the course was delivered by Nigel. His experience and explanations were excellent. M. Burnett - NHS Derriford

NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety - Nigel Roberts

Tutors experience and explanations were excellent. 

The content and pace was perfect. Andrew engaged really well with everyone on the course, making it so much more interesting than being talked at for two days. C. Driver - Kier Construction

Bespoke - Health and Safety Awareness for Trade Colleagues - Andrew Naish

Tutor made the course so much more interesting

Just wanted to say a massive thank you for the training I was given. I was on the day course for asbestos non-licensed with Paul and it was brilliant. So informative, well delivered and interesting. Paul was absolutely amazing! Really nice guy, he made the session fun and enjoyable. Such a good teacher, he delivered the session really well and has such a wealth of knowledge.Look forward to hopefully coming back soon. Thanks Paul and SSG!!B. Macauly - Tony Benger Landscaping Ltd

Asbestos Non-Licensed Operative - Paul Simmonds

Tutor was absolutely amazing! So informative, well delivered and interesting.

The course content was really enjoyable and Andrea is an amazing trainer. Thank you so much for the last few days. I can honestly say that this has been the best course I’ve ever been on, and that’s not just down to the content. A. Burrell - Kier

The best course I've ever been on. 

Enthusiastic and supportive instructor. I was absolutely dreading this course, particularly around presenting, but I've come away with increased confidence and new skills. Great support, thank you!N. Haddock - Mare and Foal Sanctuary

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Engineered Stone Dust: What the new HSE guidance means for businesses and worker safety

Workplace etiquette – what most bothers work colleagues?

World Day for Safety and Health at Work: Turning awareness into action

Featured courses

Testimonials

Training locations

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Call us on 01752 201616

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We inspire people and businesses to work safely and sustainably

What we do

Welcome to SSG

Latest updates

Engineered Stone Dust: What the new HSE guidance means for businesses and worker safety

Workplace etiquette – what most bothers work colleagues?

World Day for Safety and Health at Work: Turning awareness into action

Featured courses

Testimonials

Training locations

We're here to help

Call us on 01752 201616