News and Knowledge

Company Fined 40k for Failing to Protect Employees From Wood Dust Exposure

Nat Pal Ltd, a woodworking supplier based in Fakenham, has been fined £40,000 after Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspection found serious breaches in protecting workers from hazardous wood dust exposure – a known cause of asthma and nose cancer.     Nat Pal Ltd’s HSE violations explained The inspection revealed major failings in the…

Silicosarcoidosis: New Occupational Lung Disease Linked to Silica Exposure

Researchers at National Jewish Health and partners in Colorado, Illinois, Taiwan, and Israel have added the new term ‘Silicosarcoidosis’ to the medical language.     The term refers to patients showing characteristics of silicosis and sarcoidosis, severe pulmonary diseases. Caused by occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS), commonly found in mining, construction, and engineered…

Silicosis: Do’s and don’ts for installing stone worktops according to HSE

The Health and Safety regulator has issued new, simplified advice for workers and employers who deal with engineered stone.   The newly published document has been issued after increasing concerns around workers inhaling stone dust – causing long-term and incurable health issues such as silicosis.     The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) guidance is…

Silicosis: Warning issued over ‘trendy’ quartz kitchens as two people die

Unions have issued a warning about worktops made from engineered stone after 18 cases of deadly lung diseases have emerged, and two people have died after working with the material.   The engineered surfaces, which are often used in modern kitchens and bathrooms have already been linked to more than a dozen UK cases of…

Stonemason dies from Silicosis after working in ‘appalling conditions’

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.     He…

‘New Asbestos’: Warning issued after workers die from silicosis in West Yorkshire

A warning has been issued regarding the dangers of working with silica dust, after two men from West Yorkshire died after being diagnosed with silicosis.   Their widows have now spoken out, describing silica dust as the “new asbestos”. Silicosis is caused by inhaling toxic silica dust, which is commonly found in engineered stone, such…

Stonemason who has weeks to live warns of dangers of silicosis

A stonemason who has just weeks to live after being diagnosed with deadly lung disease Silicosis has spoken out to warn others of the dangers of working in the industry.   Marek Marzec, 48 is currently in hospital receiving palliative care after being diagnosed with silicosis in April this year. He contracted the disease after…

Did you work at Tata Steel?

Port Talbot’s Tata Steelworks shut down this week, resulting in 2,800 jobs being put at risk.   Earlier this year it was announced that Tata was making job cuts after plans were released to go ahead with a greener form of steelmaking.     Tata Steel, announced plans to produce steel more environmentally friendly, using…

Experts call for ban on artificial stone worktops over silicosis risk

The growing number of silicosis cases linked to artificial stone worktops has sparked experts to call for urgent action, including a potential ban on these materials.   Silicosis is a fatal lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust, which is prevalent in artificial stone due to its high silica content. The disease has no known…

Australia bans engineered stone to protect workers from silica dust

From July 1, Australia banned the use of engineered stone to protect workers from the dangers of silica dust.   Engineered stone is commonly used on kitchen surfaces and worktops, but the silica dust released when cutting and handling the stone poses a serious health risk if inhaled.     Silica dust has been linked…