A stonemasons' health and safety event in Vauxhall, south London, has been such a proved so successful that further events are now being arranged to answer the demand.

Directors, managers, owners and supervisors of stonework companies who deal with quality marble, granite and other stone finishes for the domestic end of the market attended the event. The safety workshop held at Marmi & Granito, discussed the potential health hazards that are associated with this kind of work.

In the last five years there have been at least five fatalities across London and the South East involving this area of work.

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The demonstrations that were delivered by experts from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), looked at safe moving and lifting of slabs, safe unloading of slabs from vehicles, the control of silica and other dusts, and controlling noise and vibration from hand-held tools. It was also a chance for companies to get together and discuss the safety issues they face in their industry.

HSE Inspector Steve Kirton said: "The stone safety awareness day at Marmi & Granito was a great success. We have been overwhelmed by the response to this event - which was the first of its kind.

"These events are very important as HSE can address the key hazards that are present in stone workshops across the capital.

"In these working environments there are obvious and less obvious hazards such as the long-term and potentially fatal respiratory problems caused by breathing in stone dust, and the risks involved in operating hand-held power tools, which can lead to permanent ill-health."

(CD/BMcC)