Stonemason dies from Silicosis in poor working conditions

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A man who developed silicosis after years of cutting kitchen worktops in ‘appalling conditions’ has died, his family has said.

Prior to his death, father-of-three Marek Marzec said the dust he inhaled while cutting benches made from quartz left him ‘unable to breath’ and ‘in terrible pain’ prior to his death.

Stonemason dies from Silicosis

He was diagnosed with lung disease silicosis but was too unwell to undergo a lung transplant.

Before his death, Mr. Marzec had accused the stone manufacturers where he was employed for a decade of having ‘unsafe’ working conditions and hoped by speaking out he could prevent others from dying by simply ‘doing their job’.

Prior to his death, he had issued a warning to others, informing them of the dangers of working with quartz.

Engineered stone, such as quartz was this year banned in countries including Australia to protect workers from contracting diseases such as silicosis. Since then, there has been called for the UK to follow suit, to protect workers in the industry.

The popular worktops are made from 90 per cent ground quartz and 10 per cent resins and pigments.

While being processed into its final worktop form the stone releases harmful particles of fine silica dust being released into the air – and if the correct safety equipment or working practices are not in place it can put workers at risk.

Once inhaled into the lungs, the particles can build up, causing internal scarring and inflammation of the lungs known as silicosis.

It has since been revealed that Mr. Marzec sadly passed away at the Whittington Hospital in London on November 30 from respiratory failure due to silicosis.

Legal action

Mr. Marzec, 48 was in the process of taking legal action with another law firm against the companies he worked for when he was given just weeks to live.

According to reports, he had worked for several engineered stone manufacturers in north London and Hertfordshire since 2012.

The cause of death was listed as ‘Artificial Stone Silicosis’ on his proposed death certificate, law firm Leigh Day said.

Following his death, his sister Monika, who lives in Poland, spoke of the importance of raising awareness about the conditions he worked in, to prevent others from dying similarly unnecessary deaths.

Monika said:

“The family and I are all very saddened by the death of Marek.

“[He] fought so bravely in the face of his diagnosis, as well as for future victims of this terrible condition, by speaking out to the media about engineered stone and the appalling conditions in which he worked.

“Marek was a beloved father and brother who will be missed by all of us, but we are proud of the legacy he has left by speaking up for the victims of silicosis.”

Deterioration

Mr. Marzec was diagnosed with silicosis in April this year, with his condition having deteriorated rapidly since.

He was being treated at the Whittington Hospital under the care of leading occupational lung disease expert Dr Jo Feary, from the Royal Brompton Hospital.

However, his silicosis – a long-term lung disease caused by the inhalation of large amounts of crystalline silica dust – had reached such an advanced stage that he was given just weeks to live at the end of October.

Lung transplant

A recent study found that stone workers similar to Mr. Marzec had developed an acute form of silicosis that causes significant shortness of breath and severe disability, with a lung transplant often being the only way to treat it.

Unfortunately, Mr. Marzec was too unwell to undergo such an operation and was placed on end-of-life care.

‘My life has been cut short simply for doing my job’

Speaking from hospital in October, Mr. Marzec had told of being left in ‘terrible pain’ and unable to breathe ‘simply for doing my job’.

“I arrived in the UK hoping to build a better life and wanting to make sure that my young daughters were financially secure,” he said.

“Instead, because of the work I did cutting quartz worktops, I have been left unable to breathe and in terrible pain.

“I cannot tell you how angry I am that I was allowed to work in these conditions and that my life has been cut short simply for doing my job.

“I am not the only person whose life has been put at risk by this lethal dust.

“It is time for urgent action to stop these dangerous working conditions I had to face before other stone workers contract this terrible disease and die.”

Below we break down some information about silicosis, including what it is, causes and when you may be entitled to take legal action.

What is Silicosis?

Silicosis (or Occupational Pulmonary Fibrosis) is a serious lung disease caused by the inhalation of fine silica dust, which is a mineral found in materials like sand, rock, and quartz. When silica dust is inhaled over time, it settles in the lungs, leading to inflammation and scarring of lung tissue.

This damage reduces the lungs’ ability to take in oxygen, causing symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, and fatigue.

Silicosis is a progressive and incurable disease, which often develops years after exposure to silica dust. There are three types: chronic silicosis, which occurs after long-term exposure; accelerated silicosis, which develops faster after high exposure; and acute silicosis, which can appear after just a few months of intense exposure.

Silicosis is also a type of pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease which occurs when the tissue becomes damaged and scarred. The thickened, stiff tissue often makes it hard for the lungs to work properly, and can worsen over time.

Silicosis can severely impact a person’s quality of life and prevention, through protective equipment and dust control measures, is crucial, as there is no cure for silicosis.

What causes Silicosis?

Many recent cases of silicosis have been diagnosed in stonemasonry workers, caused by prolonged inhalation of respirable crystalline silica dust, which is released when cutting, grinding, or shaping stone materials such as sandstone, granite, and quartz.

Stonemasonry involves tasks that generate a significant amount of fine silica dust, especially when dry cutting or polishing stone. Without proper protective measures, such as dust suppression systems, adequate ventilation, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) like respirators, this dust can become airborne and easily inhaled.

When can I make a claim for Silicosis?

If you have been diagnosed with Silicosis and you believe it was caused as a result of failures/and or negligence in your current or former workplace, you may be entitled to claim compensation. Employers have a legal duty to ensure employees are safe at work, by providing adequate protective equipment, training and safety practices.

If you believe your employer failed to meet these requirements and as a result, you have suffered harm, you may be entitled to compensation.

If your Silicosis symptoms were initially mistaken for another condition or your diagnosis took an unnecessarily long time to confirm, you may also be able to make a claim for medical misdiagnosis or delay.

Silicosis Employer Liability laws

As well as the common law duty to ensure a safe place of work and a safe system of work, your employer will have several duties set down by statute:

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

Employers have a duty so far as is reasonably practicable to ensure the safety and welfare of their employees.

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

Duty to undertake a reasonable risk assessment (Reg. 3)
Requirement to undertake a health surveillance (Reg. 6)

Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992

Ensure that suitable personal equipment is provided (Reg. 4)
Ensure an assessment of any personal protective equipment is undertaken to determine whether it is suitable.

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002

Required to assess health risks where work is liable to expose employees to substances hazardous to health (Reg. 6)
Ensure exposure to substances hazardous to health is either prevented or where not reasonably practicable, adequately controlled (Reg. 7)
Ensure any employee exposed to substances hazardous to health are monitored and under suitable health surveillance (Reg. 11)

If these are not met and as a result, you have suffered harm, you may be entitled to compensation.

I have been diagnosed with Silicosis but I stopped working at the company a while ago, can I still make a claim?

If you have only been diagnosed with silicosis recently, then your action should be in time for limitation purposes, even if you were exposed to silica dust decades ago.

However, this is solely evidence-based for each action, so it is strongly recommended that you speak with a solicitor to take further advice as soon as possible.

How much compensation will I get?

The amount of compensation you will be awarded will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and will depend on your circumstances and injuries caused by the exposure.

The claims range for these types of cases can be from a few thousand pounds to hundreds of thousands of pounds.

What contains Silica dust?

Silica dust is commonly found in materials that contain crystalline silica, a mineral present in many natural substances. Materials that contain silica dust include:

Sandstone
Granite
Quartz
Concrete
Bricks
Ceramics and tiles
Glass
Stone (like marble and limestone)
Asphalt
Soil, clay, and gravel

These materials release silica dust when cut, drilled, ground, or crushed, which is why industries like construction, mining, stonemasonry, and glass manufacturing are particularly at risk for exposure.

Jobs at risk of Silicosis

Silicosis is caused by inhaling Silica found in certain types of rock, stone, sand and clay. People who work in the following industries are particularly at risk:

Stone masonry and stone cutting – especially with sandstone
Construction and demolition – as a result of exposure to concrete and paving materials
Worktop manufacturing and fitting
Pottery, ceramics and glass manufacturing
Mining and quarrying
Sandblasting
Engineering

Symptoms of Silicosis

The symptoms of silicosis vary depending on the severity of the disease, but they generally develop gradually and worsen over time. Common symptoms include:

Persistent Cough: A chronic, dry cough that doesn’t go away.
Shortness of Breath: Difficulty breathing or a feeling of breathlessness, especially after physical activity.
Chest Pain: Discomfort or pain in the chest area.
Fatigue: Persistent tiredness and lack of energy.
Weight Loss: Unexplained weight loss over time.
Fever: In some cases, low-grade fever may occur.
Blue-tinted lips or skin (Cyanosis): Due to a lack of oxygen in the blood.

In more advanced cases, individuals may experience worsening respiratory issues, a higher risk of lung infections like tuberculosis, and other complications such as lung cancer or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Silicosis treatment

At present, there is no cure for Silicosis because lung damage cannot be reversed. However, there is treatment available to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life. There’s no cure for silicosis because the lung damage can’t be reversed. Treatment aims to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.

For example, you may be offered long-term home oxygen therapy if you’re having difficulty breathing and have low levels of oxygen in your blood.

Bronchodilator medicines may also be prescribed to widen your airways and make breathing easier.

In very severe cases, a lung transplant may be an option, although there are strict health requirements to meet before this will be considered.

Stonemason dies from Silicosis after working in ‘appalling conditions’