Construction workers, stone fabricators, sandblasters, and others who have been diagnosed with silicosis are suing those they’ve deemed responsible for them conducting this deadly lung disease.
In September 2024, Los Angeles’ NBC affiliate, NBC4 reported on the case of Gustavo Reyez Gonzalez, who was diagnosed with silicosis after having worked with engineered stone slabs used in kitchen and bathroom countertops for nearly 20 years at local shops.
The 34-year-old Gonzalez, who received a life-saving lung transplant in 2023, won a lawsuit against several manufacturers of the engineered stone. A jury awarded him $52 million in damages in what is believed to be a landmark trial and verdict.
“I’m hoping that other workers won’t have to face the same illness and possible death during this time,” Wendy Torres, Gonzalez’s wife, told the news station. “It’s something that is killing other human beings, and hopefully it will stop, so that these workers will actually have a future with their families, and a future to live and be with their loved ones.
Silicosis is an incurable, progressive lung disease caused by the inhalation of respirable crystalline silica, which is released when concrete or certain stones are cut, drilled, or ground.
Over 2.3 million U.S. workers are exposed to silica dust annually, with construction workers being at the highest risk, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Lawsuits like Gonzalez’s and the increasing number of silicosis cases stemming from the stone cutting industry have led to calls to ban some artificial stone products.
Australia was the first country in the world to implement a national ban on engineered stone, a ban which went into effect in July of 2024. Employers are forbidden from manufacturing, supplying, processing, or installing any engineered stone containing crystalline silica, which Monash University labeled as the “new asbestos” in an article on silicosis research published in February.
Back in California, local lawmakers told NBC4 that while a complete ban of artificial stone is not currently on the table, new standards for working with engineered stone slabs are expected.
Jeremy Buckingham, a member of parliament from New South Wales, Australia, was a stonemason before entering politics. He told NBC4 that he has a lung screening every year due to the high-risk exposure he experienced in his previous line of work.
Of course, banning artificial stone slabs won’t protect construction workers who contract silicosis from cutting, sawing, or drilling concrete.
Silica is found in concrete as a component of Portland cement, the most common type of cement in general use around the world. As demand for cement and concrete is only expected to increase due to the expanded need for infrastructure construction, it’s vital that employers and workers alike take all available precautions when working with this ever-present material to protect themselves and their peers from silica exposure.
Risk mitigation strategies include:
- Using Wet Cutting Techniques: Applying water at the source reduces airborne silica dust
- Ventilation and Dust Collection Systems: Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) captures dust at its source
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Ensure workers wear N95 respirators or other approved respiratory protection
- Training and Monitoring: Educate workers on the dangers of silica dust and monitor air quality on-site
Concrete cutting and coring involve inherent risks, but these can be greatly minimized through thorough planning, effective worker training, and strict adherence to safety protocols. By implementing industry best practices, general contractors can safeguard workers, ensure regulatory compliance, and prevent costly project delays.
Emphasizing worker safety is both a legal requirement and a moral duty, contributing to improved efficiency and successful project results.
GPRS sponsors Concrete Sawing & Drilling Safety Week each January to help construction companies keep their teams safer. We bring our safety experts to you January 27-31, 2025. Click here to learn more about this complimentary concrete safety training and schedule your CSDSW talk.
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