Home › Industries› Stone Carving & Sculpture Risk Assessment
Stone Carving & Sculpture Risk Assessment — Generated Instantly for £29
Stone carving and sculpture work carries significant health and safety risks including silica dust exposure, manual handling of heavy materials, vibration from power tools, and eye injuries from flying fragments. A written risk assessment is required under UK health and safety law and expected by studio landlords, public art commissioners and insurers.
Used by sculptors, stonemasonry workshops, public art studios and heritage restoration professionals across the UK
⚠️ Working with sandstone, limestone or granite? These materials produce respirable crystalline silica (RCS) — a serious lung disease hazard. Mention your stone type and cutting methods and we will include COSHH-compliant dust control measures, respiratory protective equipment (RPE) requirements and workplace exposure limit (WEL) monitoring.
Legal requirements for stone carving and sculpture work
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) place a legal duty on employers and self-employed sculptors to prevent or control exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS), which is produced when cutting, grinding or carving sandstone, granite, limestone and most natural stone. Regulation 6 requires exposure to be reduced to as low as is reasonably practicable, and Regulation 7 requires the use of local exhaust ventilation (LEV) or wet working methods. RCS exposure is linked to silicosis, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 apply to the use of pneumatic chisels, angle grinders, rotary hammers and other vibrating tools. Regulation 5 sets an exposure limit value (ELV) of 5 m/s² A(8), and Regulation 6 sets an exposure action value (EAV) of 2.5 m/s² A(8). When the EAV is exceeded, employers must introduce a programme of controls including tool rotation, anti-vibration gloves and health surveillance to prevent hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS).
The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 require a risk assessment where manual handling of stone blocks, sculpture components or finished works involves a risk of injury. Regulation 4(1)(b)(ii) requires the use of mechanical assistance (hoists, pallet trucks, A-frames) where reasonably practicable. Stone carving typically involves very heavy manual handling and mechanical aids are essential.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires every employer and self-employed person to conduct their work in a way that does not expose others to health and safety risks. For sculptors working in shared studios, at public sites or on commissioned installations, a written risk assessment is essential and routinely requested by landlords, local authorities and public art commissioners.
How it works
1. Describe your project
Tell us the type of stone (sandstone, granite, limestone, marble), the tools you use (hand chisels, angle grinders, pneumatic hammers, diamond saws), the location (studio, outdoor site, public space) and whether you work alone or with assistants. If you are installing a finished sculpture, describe the lifting and fixing methods.
2. Let the app take the strain
Anyrisks produces a fully written, UK-compliant stone carving and sculpture risk assessment referencing COSHH, the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005, the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 and all relevant health and safety law.
3. Instant download and use
Download as PDF and Word. Hand it to your studio landlord, public art commissioner or local authority, include it in your tender documentation or file it for compliance. £29, no subscription.
What it covers
Every stone carving and sculpture risk assessment is written in full — covering all material, tool and site-specific hazards relevant to your work.
Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure — COSHH Regulation 6 compliance
Wet working methods and local exhaust ventilation (LEV) requirements
Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) — FFP3 masks and powered respirators
Workplace exposure limit (WEL) monitoring and health surveillance
Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) from pneumatic and power tools
Vibration exposure limit values (ELV) and action values (EAV) — Regulation 5 & 6
Manual handling of stone blocks and finished sculptures — mechanical aids
Eye protection from flying stone fragments and grinding debris
Noise exposure from angle grinders, saws and pneumatic chisels
Dermatitis and skin damage from prolonged wet working
Electrical safety — RCD protection for power tools in wet environments
Working at height during sculpture installation — scaffolding and harnesses
Public safety during outdoor carving or installation on public sites
Lone working in studios — emergency procedures and check-in systems
Works for
From studio hand carving to large-scale public art installation, Anyrisks covers every type of stone carving and sculpture work.
What customers say
"I work with limestone and sandstone in a shared studio. The landlord wanted a full COSHH assessment covering silica dust. Anyrisks covered wet working, RPE, and LEV requirements — everything I needed in one document."
Rachel M.
Sculptor, Bristol
"We commissioned a public sculpture for the town square and the council required a risk assessment covering installation, public safety and vibration from angle grinders. Anyrisks produced exactly what we needed — site-specific and regulation-referenced."
David K.
Public art commissioner, Yorkshire
"I use pneumatic hammers for granite carving. The assessment covered HAVS, vibration exposure limits and tool rotation — it was clear I had thought about the health risks properly and my insurer accepted it without question."
James L.
Monumental mason, Scotland
Anyrisks vs DIY templates
| Anyrisks | DIY / Templates | |
|---|---|---|
| Written in full — not a blank form | ✓ | ✗ |
| COSHH Regulation 6 compliance for silica dust | ✓ | ✗ |
| Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 referenced | ✓ | ✗ |
| Wet working and LEV requirements included | ✓ | ✗ |
| RPE specification (FFP3, powered respirators) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Manual handling and mechanical lifting controls | ✓ | ✗ |
| Public safety and installation risks covered | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ready in under 2 minutes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Instant PDF and Word download | ✓ | Sometimes |
Frequently asked questions
Does this cover both hand carving and power tool use?
Yes — describe which tools you use (hand chisels, angle grinders, pneumatic hammers, diamond saws) and the assessment will include appropriate control measures for each, including dust suppression, noise control, vibration exposure limits and hand-arm vibration syndrome prevention.
Is silica dust risk covered under COSHH?
Yes — stone carving produces respirable crystalline silica (RCS), a major health hazard under COSHH Regulation 6. Anyrisks assessments include wet cutting requirements, respiratory protective equipment (RPE) specification, workplace exposure limits (WEL) and health surveillance requirements for RCS exposure.
Can I use this for public sculpture installation as well as workshop carving?
Yes — describe both the studio carving work and the installation phase, including lifting, working at height, site conditions and public safety, and we will produce a comprehensive assessment covering both environments.
Does it reference the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005?
Yes — if you use pneumatic chisels, angle grinders or other vibrating tools, the assessment will reference Regulation 5 (exposure limit values) and Regulation 6 (exposure action values), and include tool rotation, anti-vibration gloves and health surveillance requirements.
Is manual handling of large stone blocks covered?
Yes — manual handling of stone is a major musculoskeletal risk. Mention block weights and the assessment will include mechanical lifting aids (hoists, pallet trucks, A-frames), team lifting procedures and compliance with the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992.
How long does it take to generate?
Under 2 minutes. Describe your stone type, carving location (workshop or site), tools used and any specific hazards like overhead lifting or outdoor installation, and Anyrisks produces a complete, COSHH-compliant stone carving risk assessment instantly.
Also see: The Ultimate Guide to Risk Assessment · Do I Need a Risk Assessment? · Risk Assessment Legal Requirements · Risk Assessment Generator