Police are now leading a criminal investigation over whether the death of a stonemason from silicosis after cutting kitchen worktops was homicide-related.
Marek Marzec, 48, died in November 2024, just seven months after he was diagnosed with the incurable lung disease from inhaling toxic silica dust.
The father-of-two from Poland had worked for 12 years in London and Hertfordshire with engineered stone, also known as quartz or artificial stone.
Quartz can contain very high levels of silica dust and has now been banned in Australia after hundreds of young stonemasons there contracted silicosis, with more than 50 cases and four deaths among UK tradesmen since 2023.
Four weeks before his death, speaking to The i Paper from his hospital bed while receiving end-of-life care, Marzec described being in terrible pain and unable to breathe as his condition worsened.
On Monday, inquest proceedings into Marzec’s death resumed at Poplar Coroner’s Court, where a pre-inquest review hearing was held.
Senior Coroner for Inner North London Mary Hassell heard from Metropolitan Police Detective Sergeant Steve Jeffrey, who confirmed the force currently has primacy over the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the investigation into Marzec’s death.
Whenever there is a suspicion that a negligent homicide may have caused a death, the police assume primacy for an investigation and work jointly with other relevant enforcing authorities.
Only police can investigate homicide-related offences such as corporate or gross negligence manslaughter, according to the work-related deaths protocol, a framework for police, HSE, the Crown Prosecution Service and other bodies.
Marek Marzec, a Polish father-of-two, had spent 12 years cutting kitchen worktop stone in the UK (Photo: Family handout supplied by Leigh Day)Counsel for Marzec’s family, John-Paul Swoboda KC, said his bereaved relatives wanted to see a “thorough” investigation into his death.
“I think there is a desire to ensure that what happened to Mr Marzec does not happen to anybody else,” he told Hassell of what the family hoped to see from the inquest.
In preparation for the inquest, the coroner said she had received a statement prepared by Marzec before his death, statements from two former employees of a company where he had worked, his GP and his respiratory physician.
Hassell had also received a postmortem report listing his cause of death as respiratory failure from pulmonary silicosis and malnutrition.
As part of the police probe, DS Jeffrey said the Met was waiting to interview two other witnesses who worked at Marzec’s previous employers, as well as a respiratory physician expert, which may take 10 to 12 weeks.
HSE inspector Gordon Carson said the workplace safety watchdog was also carrying out its own enquiries alongside the Met’s investigation.
The HSE probe would determine if “there are any health and safety breaches at any of the companies Mr Marzec worked for” and whether it should consider any “prosecution under health and safety legislation” as a result.
Hassell set a further inquest review hearing for 10am on 22 July.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson told The i Paper: “Officers are continuing enquiries alongside the Health and Safety Executive following the death of Marek Marzec.
“We cannot provide any further detail while the investigation is ongoing.”
The i Paper recently launched its Killer Kitchens campaign to force the Government to clamp down on this deadly dust.
Quartz can contain very high levels of silica dust and has now been banned in Australia after hundreds of young stonemasons there contracted silicosisPrior to his diagnosis, Marzec had worked since 2012 for several engineered stone manufacturers in north London and Hertfordshire.
As he received palliative care in the Whittington, Marzec gave an interview to warn other stonemasons of the dangers from cutting quartz, describing how he had working on kitchen countertops in a “tornado” of dust.
“I want to speak out, because people are not aware of this problem,” Marzec said.
“It’s very important for me to speak out, because this illness that I have fallen to – it’s just the beginning.
“I’m sure more and more people will fall ill with it, and unfortunately, it’s an incurable disease.
“Employers set up their companies, but they do not invest in the proper equipment, and what they eventually do is just waste away people’s lives.”
Speaking last year, Marzec’s family told The i Paper they were “devastated” by his loss, adding he came to the UK to build a life and provide financial security for his daughters.
They are backing the Killer Kitchens campaign, and want tougher laws that strengthen regulations, provide better protection for workers – and ultimately ban engineered stone.
“Marek lost his life to silicosis, an entirely preventable but fatal disease caused by his exposure to silica dust from engineered stone. Our family has suffered unimaginable loss, and we are left feeling grief and anger that no one should have to experience,” they said.
“We believe Marek’s condition was entirely preventable as, not only were the conditions he worked in appalling, but there were alternative materials available to his employers that would not have put his life at such great risk.”
The Department for Work and Pensions, which oversees the HSE, inists the UK has “strong laws protecting workers from hazardous substances, including artificial stone”.
The Health and Safety Executive was continuing to work with industry on the issue, a DWP spokesperson added.
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