Concerns have been raised for the safety of migrant workers who work in the stonemasonry industry after figures show that some are being exposed to toxic materials without protection.
The warning comes as Kevin Bampton, the chief executive of the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS), said there were fears over workers being exposed to toxic silica dust when cutting engineered stone, with no safety controls in place.
Silica dust is found in quartz, which is commonly used in kitchen renovations and surfaces, alongside some stone, rock and gravel.
However, if the dust of these materials is inhaled, for example, if it is being cut or drilled, it can cause inflammation and scarring, leading to deadly and irreversible lung diseases such as silicosis.
According to figures, Silicosis is responsible for an average of 12 UK deaths a year, and so far 10 cases have been identified in engineered stone workers.
Mr. Bampton has expressed concern for migrant workers working in this field, who are being exposed to silica without the correct protections and regulations.
He said:
“My understanding is that the migrant workers had been in the country for between six and eight years and had been working part-time on zero-hours contracts doing this work.
“There were a cluster of cases who were migrant workers working pretty much for family-based organisations.
“All of whom were working with no control. So no water suppression, no real PPE.”
Concerns have been raised that migrants are being used to carry out this type of work in the UK after it was found that more than half of the workers diagnosed with silicosis in Australia were migrants.
Mr. Bampton said:
“There were indications that a similar pattern may now be emerging in the UK.
“One of the things about labour exploitation is that they tend to find a particular product or niche and then it kind of happens across the globe.
“The real challenge is to get people educated to use control measures. Because unless you just banned all silica-based products, all bricks, all stone, whether engineered or not engineered, you’re not going to achieve the required outcome.”
Concerns have also been raised about unregulated or illegitimate companies using the material without the correct protections. Although the Health and Safety Executive carries out inspections for legitimate firms, questions have been raised about the safety of workers for companies that aren’t registered.
“My major fear is within the grey market and the black market when people are working in these types of areas, they’re unlikely to come forward with health conditions in the first place, and they’re not going to complain about poor working conditions.
“You’ve probably seen how many people’s kitchens have granite or quartz worktops in them. They’ve been around for decades, and we’ve yet not had silicosis cases, largely because they’ve been in a relatively well-controlled environment.
“And then suddenly, you get to a group of people who aren’t aware of the risks that don’t use any controls. And then suddenly, it actually becomes quite a dangerous activity.”
Engineered stone has been banned in some countries including Australia, but the Health and Safety Executive in the UK says it is not currently planning to restrict the use of this material.
What is silicosis?
Silicosis is a long-term lung disease caused by inhaling large amounts of crystalline silica dust, usually over many years.
Silica is a substance naturally found in certain types of stone, rock, sand and clay. Working with these materials can create a very fine dust that can be easily inhaled.
Once inside the lungs, it causes swelling (inflammation) and gradually leads to areas of hardened and scarred lung tissue (fibrosis). Lung tissue that’s scarred in this way doesn’t function properly.
Silicosis symptoms
Symptoms usually take years to develop, and many people will not see the signs until they have stopped working with silica dust.
However, symptoms can worsen even if you are no longer exposed.
According to the NHS, Silicosis usually develops after being exposed to silica for 10-20 years. However, with heavy exposure, it can develop within a matter of a few months. Symptoms include:
Silicosis causes
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
Silicosis – What materials cause silicosis?
Silica is a natural substance found in most rocks, sand and clay. However, different materials contain different amounts of silica. For example, sandstone contains more than 70% silica, whereas granite might contain 15-30%. Silica is also a major constituent of construction materials such as bricks, tiles, concrete and mortar.
How to prevent silicosis
Silicosis can be prevented by avoiding prolonged exposure to silica dust.
All workplaces must comply with The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, which sets a workplace exposure limit for silica.
Your employer should:
- warn you about any risks to your health
- make sure you’re aware of the correct procedures to reduce your risk of exposure to silica dust
- supply you with the necessary equipment to protect you
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.
Silicosis claims
If you’ve been diagnosed with silicosis, you may be able to claim compensation for the damages. Oakwood Solicitors Ltd agrees to work on your industrial disease claim on a ‘no-win, no-fee’ basis.
If your claim is unsuccessful, you will not be expected to pay us a penny. If you are successful in your claim, we take a percentage of the compensation meaning that the only time we will receive money is if we have brought your claim to a fruitful conclusion.
You will have a dedicated advisor who will see your claim through from start to finish, assisting you in the event of any queries or issues you may have. If it is preferable to you, we are able to assign a female advisor to carry out your claim.
Your case handler will also continue to provide regular updates until the conclusion of your claim, ensuring the process is as stress-free and effortless as possible.
Further reading
Respiratory disease claims – Oakwood Solicitors
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Liam Hill is a Solicitor and Deputy Head of the Industrial Disease Team, having trained and qualified at Oakwood Solicitors. Liam joined us in 2013 after successfully completing the Legal Practice C…
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