Stonemasons Face Rising Silicosis Cases, Sparking Calls for Industry-Wide Safety Overhaul
A growing number of stonemasons are being diagnosed with silicosis, a debilitating and often fatal lung disease, prompting urgent calls for stricter safety regulations and a potential ban on engineered stone – dubbed “the new asbestos” – used in kitchen worktops and luxury construction.
Gareth Edwards, 38, a father of two from South Wales, is among those battling the disease, experiencing breathlessness and fatigue as silicosis progressively damages his lungs. He contracted the illness after years cutting engineered stone, a material increasingly popular for its aesthetic appeal but containing high levels of crystalline silica. “I’m suffocating,” Edwards stated, describing the impact of the disease on his daily life. ”It feels like I’m breathing through a straw.” His case highlights a worrying trend of younger workers developing silicosis, traditionally associated with decades of exposure.
The disease is caused by inhaling respirable crystalline silica dust, created when engineered stone is cut, polished, or drilled. Over time, this dust embeds in the lungs, causing inflammation and scarring, leading to reduced lung function and ultimately, respiratory failure. Experts warn that current safety measures in some workplaces are “woefully inadequate,” with some describing conditions as “practically Victorian.”
“Silicosis is a preventable disease,yet we are seeing younger and younger workers left with life-changing and frequently enough fatal health problems,” said daniel Poet,partner and industrial disease specialist at Thompsons Solicitors. “The law is clear: employers have a duty to protect their workers. But too many are failing, and it is indeed costing lives.”
The crisis extends beyond engineered stone. Workers handling natural stone also remain at risk. Sandra Elliot, 59, tragically lost her husband, George, 64, a stonemason from Bexhill-on-Sea, to silicosis two years ago. He developed the disease while working on high-end construction projects. “We have to start looking after these men better so other wives and families don’t have to suffer like I did,” Elliot pleaded.
George’s sister-in-law, Caroline Hudson, 64, a retired personal assistant, is now advocating for a ban on engineered stone, stating, “It is indeed the new asbestosis.”
Hannah Wall, an expert occupational disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, representing affected workers, emphasized that a potential ban on artificial stone is only a first step. ”There’s still much more that needs to be done to protect workers… the health and safety measures put in place by some employers remain woefully inadequate.”
Joe Clarke, Unite Officer, warned, “We’re going to see an epidemic over the next few years.”
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) acknowledged the severity of the issue,stating,”Our condolences are with anyone who has lost a loved one to silicosis or been affected by work-related disease.” A DWP spokesperson added that the Health and Safety Executive is “continuing working with industry on this issue.”
