INDUSTRY UPDATE WORKTOP FABRICATORS FEDERATION THE KBSA COLUMN
WFF gets quartz worktops fears into perspective
product ban. Q
Britain’s Worktop Fabricators Federation wants to put things in perspective for UK showrooms and designers. There is no risk to consumers, specifiers or installers in using these products.
Crystalline silica dust occurs only when using fast moving abrasive tools prior to installation. Cutting flings up small fragments of the Respirable Crystalline Silica that creates the health risk.
Which is why water-suppression at the cutting edge is widespread among UK fabricators. And why international supplier Technistone has announced it will simply not sell quartz to workshops which dry-cut.
HSE guidance reads:
“Products containing silica can be processed safely when proper controls are put in place. We would urge all manufacturers and fitters to ensure that they use suitable controls to protect their workers and themselves from inhaling silica dust.”
Professional fabricators recognise ‘proper controls’ as a cost of doing business. On the other hand, making stone worktops out of the back of a van with modified joinery tools means ‘proper controls’ are an optional (and costly) extra.
WFF believes the best regulatory intervention would be to restrict the sale of worktop blanks to fabricators who can demonstrate they operate suitable H&S policies in suitable premises.
Find out more about the WFF’s industry campaigns here.
More details are available from The KBSA
07366 391105
www.kbsa.org.uk or call 01623 818808
BKU APRIL 2024 43
uartz worktops made headlines at the end of 2023 when Australia announced a country-wide cancer-scare
Awards Host Announced As Kbsa Designer Awards Open For Entries
T
he Kbsa has opened the 2024 Kbsa Designer Awards for entries, and announced the award host will be comedian
Ronni Ancona.
Ronni Ancona first became known for her work on the BAFTA winning ‘The Big Impression’ series & specials with Alistair McGowan for which she won the British Comedy Award for Best Actress and the prestigious Variety Club Award. She also received a BAFTA for her performance in The Sketch Show which she also co-wrote. She has worked extensively in both comedy and drama such as the international hit comedy-drama, Last Tango in Halifax in which she has been a regular character, over five series. She has made many regular appearances as a panellist on QI over 10 years and has hosted Have I Got News for You. The awards dinner will take place on Wednesday 09 October, at the Belfry Hotel and Resort, West Midlands, following the KBB Industry conference.
Kbsa chair Richard Hibbert says, “We are excited to be launching our 2024 awards, which are recognised in the industry for their transparency and integrity. All entrants are judged blind by an independent judging panel, and standards are exceedingly high. “Ronni Ancona is an amazingly talented artist and will be a superb host for our event.”
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