A man-made stone popular in kitchen refurbishments but linked to the deaths of young tradesmen in the UK from an incurable lung disease will now be subject to a Government crack down, The i Paper can reveal.
It is the first official step towards tackling a rising number of UK cases of silicosis among young workers caused by inhaling toxic dust when cutting engineered – or artificial – stone, primarily quartz.
Quartz worktops have become hugely popular in kitchen makeovers, but a severe form of silicosis has hit young stonemasons after inhaling the lung-shredding respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust.
While man-made quartz is cheaper than other natural stone used in kitchen refits, it has a much higher silica content; up to 95 per cent compared to marble at around five per cent silica and granite, which contains between 15 and 30 per cent.
Marking a major move towards tackling this dangerous imbalance, importers of engineered stone to the UK have now agreed to manage the content of the toxic dust in their products in a deal with the Government.
A Government spokesperson said that after engaging with the industry, two major UK importers of engineered stone have “agreed to manage the silica content of imports to the equivalent, or lower, than that of natural stone”.
It comes after a long-running investigation by The i Paper into the dangers of the unsafe cutting of engineered stone, which has led to dozens of silicosis cases in the UK and at least two deaths since last year.
i has been reporting on cases of silicosis linked to cutting engineered stone without adequate safety measures since the start of 2024Most of the people affected are men, predominantly migrant workers, employed in small workshops that ignore safety regulations such as “wet” cutting – using water to dampen the stone and suppress dust – or proper extraction tools to remove dust from the air quickly.
A report in August last year by doctors at the Royal Brompton Hospital treating the UK’s first eight cases called on the Government to consider a ban on engineered stone. Australia became the first country to ban the material in July last year after hundreds of engineered stone workers were struck down with silicosis. Silicosis is a disease that has afflicted workers in industries such as mining or construction for hundreds of years. But compared to cases in these industries doctors have found engineered stone workers are dying and falling ill sooner, and after less exposure to silica dust.One of the former stonemasons who died last year, Marek Marzec, 48 spoke to The i Paper from his hospital bed just weeks before he died.
The Polish father-of-three wanted to warn other workers of the risk after he contracted silicosis from cutting quartz in workshops with dust “like a tornado”.
Another man, Wessam Al-Jundi, a 28-year-old from Syria, died in May last year while waiting for a lung transplant after contracting silicosis.
West London’s senior coroner has issued a rare Prevention of Future Death report before Mr Al-Jundi’s inquest demanding a “timetable for action” from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Government departments.
Earlier this year after The i Paper‘s reports into the emerging scandal, the HSE issued new guidance for stonemasons installing quartz worktops.
There are now 40 engineered stone workers understood to have been diagnosed with silicosis since the first cases emerged in mid-2023, up from around 10 at the start of last year.
A Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) spokesperson said: “Our condolences are with anyone who has lost a loved one to silicosis or has been affected by work-related disease.
“We have well-established laws for protecting workers from exposure to hazardous substances and risks to their health, including when working with engineered stone.
“Alongside this, the Health and Safety Executive has refreshed and clarified its stoneworker’s guidance whilst continuing to work with industry, stakeholders, and manufacturers of stone products on reducing the risk of non-compliance through the supply chain.”
Cases of silicosis have increasedKevin Bampton, chair of the British Occupational Hygiene Society, said education, awareness and campaigning have often been more effective in protecting people’s health than “pushing it back to Government to police health”.
But he added that The i Paper’s reporting had “made a critical difference to workers in engineered stone and will have shifted the dial for the kitchen workshop industry to protect workers”.
The Worktop Fabricators’ Federation, a trade body promoting best practice in the industry, said new low or no-silica stones were being developed, but their focus was on limiting dust exposure.
“It is important that any material is managed by professional fabrication companies that adhere to best practices, rather than those who supply at lower prices without following these standards,” a spokesperson said.
“It is important for designers and consumers to understand this distinction and recognise the expertise and value provided by WFF members services and other reputable fabricators, in contrast to businesses that do not adequately address worker safety.”
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