Will plans to limit the amount of silica in man-made stone products such as quartz kitchen worktops better protect workers from silicosis?
As an occupational disease solicitor, I'm pleased to see the issue of silica exposure back in the press.
The i has reported that two major importers of engineered stone in the UK have agreed to manage the silica content…to the equivalent, or lower than that of natural stone.
What is silica and silicosis?
For those who may be unaware, silica is a naturally occurring substance that can be found in minerals such as stone. However, it’s also present in man-made stone products such as quartz kitchen worktops.
When either natural or man-made products are cut or ground, fine particles, which can be harmful if inhaled, are produced. Exposure to these particles can then lead to silicosis, an incurable and often debilitating lung condition.
Natural stone can contain significant amounts of silica
Therefore, the suggested measures ignore the fact that natural stone can still have a significant silica content and can still cause silicosis. The silica content in natural stone depends on the type of stone.
For example, some natural stone such as sandstone can have up to 90% silica content, which is just as high as some engineered stone.
Measures could be counterproductive
Committing to reducing the silica content of the stone to the “equivalent or lower than that of natural stone” isn't necessarily protecting workers from the risk of developing silicosis or another silica-induced lung condition, such as lung cancer.
These measures are counterproductive when the health and safety measures put in place by the employers of those fabricating the stone are often woefully inadequate.
Supporting clients with lung disease
From my experience of representing clients diagnosed with lung conditions, companies that are exposing these workers are more than just negligent, they have very little regard for their workers’ health and wellbeing at all.
Some of the working conditions my clients have described to me are practically Victorian and not what anyone would expect in 2025.
English is often not these workers’ first language and as a result, navigating the legal system can be incredibly daunting, even more daunting than it would be for the average person.
Sometimes, they are completely unaware of the safety measures that should be in place when they are fabricating this stone, they are often stoic and just “get the job done”.
More needs to be done to protect workers
While encouraging importers to manage the silica content in engineered stone seems like a step in the right direction, there's still so much more to be done to protect these workers.
In terms of supporting the workers who have already developed the condition, I'd also like to see the government make serious changes to the benefits system to allow easy access to the DWP benefits they're entitled to.
At present, there are serious delays and lengthy medical assessments to access these benefits. A lot of the time they're unable to work and therefore have no income to support themselves. The benefit system adds stress and anxiety to an already very serious and worrying condition.
I'm glad that I can support these workers to secure financial compensation to ease at least some concerns about the future.
There's no doubt that more needs to be done in both preventing the disease from occurring but also how we support those who have already developed the condition.
Irwin Mitchell's Silica Exposure Register
Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in supporting workers and families affected by silica dust exposure at our dedicated silicosis claims section. Alternatively, to speak to an expert contact us or call 0370 1500 100.
Irwin Mitchell has also set up a free silica register which allows those who believe they may have been exposed to silica dust through the course of their work to record their experiences, in case the data is needed at a later date; vital when silicosis doesn’t develop until years after initial exposure has taken place.
