How many lives is a new kitchen worktop worth?
The beautiful quartz worktop in your kitchen may have come at a cost most people never see.
Workers cutting engineered stone can be exposed to dangerously high levels of silica dust. Many are young. Some develop irreversible lung disease after only a few years at work.
A finished worktop lasts for decades.
The damage to a worker's lungs lasts forever.
What is silicosis?
Silicosis is a lung disease caused by breathing in refined crystalline silica dust (RCS) over time. The dust is released when materials like stone, concrete, brick, and engineered stone are cut, drilled, or ground. Once the dust reaches the lungs, it causes permanent scarring that cannot be reversed.
What is silica dust?
Silica is a natural mineral found in many common building materials. When these materials are worked, they release tiny dust particles into the air. These particles are so small they can be breathed deep into the lungs without workers even realising they’re there.
Who is most at risk of silicosis?
Anyone who regularly works with stone, concrete, or similar materials may be at risk. This includes construction workers, stonemasons, kitchen worktop fabricators and installers, demolition workers, quarry workers, foundry workers, and people working in manufacturing.
How do you get silicosis?
Silicosis develops after breathing in silica dust over time. Every exposure adds to the damage. Workers often do not realise they are being exposed because the dust is too small to see and symptoms may not appear until years later.
What are the symptoms of silicosis?
Early symptoms can include a persistent cough, shortness of breath, and feeling unusually tired. As the disease progresses, everyday activities such as climbing stairs or walking short distances can become difficult. By the time symptoms appear, permanent lung damage has often already occurred.
Can silicosis be cured?
No. There is currently no cure for silicosis. Once the lungs have been scarred, the damage cannot be reversed. This is why preventing exposure to silica dust is so important.
Is silicosis preventable?
Yes, Silicosis is entirely preventable. Using the right controls, such as wet cutting, dust extraction, good ventilation and suitable respiratory protection, can dramatically reduce exposure and protect workers' health.
Only a total ban on silica containing materials, alongside adequate import and export controls, can keep the workers of today and tomorrow safe from silica-related risks.
Why are more young workers being diagnosed?
The growing use of engineered stone has led to higher levels of silica exposure for some workers. In countries around the world, including Australia, doctors have seen younger workers developing severe silicosis after only a few years of exposure to high-silica products.
Why is British Safety Council calling for change?
Too many workers are developing a disease that should no longer exist. We believe stronger regulation, better awareness, and safer products can reduce future cases, give retailers the time they need to introduce silica free products, before a total ban is introduced.