Workers With Silica-Exposure Lung Disease Work Have Legal Rights

A growing number of workers who fabricate, cut and install engineered stone countertops across California and the United States are being diagnosed with silicosis, a serious and incurable lung disease caused by breathing silica dust created by cutting and polishing engineered quartz countertops.

A recent investigation by The Mercury News in San Jose, California, highlighted Bay Area workers suffering from severe respiratory illness after years working with engineered stone products. While the products have soared in popularity, countertop manufacturers have failed to warn workers about the dangers created when these products are cut and installed.

What is Silicosis?

Silicosis develops when workers inhale microscopic silica particles, which causes permanent lung scarring and progressive breathing problems. Symptoms of silicosis include shortness of breath, chronic coughing, fatigue, chest pain and reduced lung function. In a growing number of cases, workers may require oxygen support or a lung transplant. 

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration estimates that 2.3 million workers are exposed to silica dust every year.

Engineered Stone Countertops Drive Rising Silica-Exposure Lung Disease Numbers

Quartz countertops have grown into an $18.4 billion global market with nearly half of slab sales occurring in North America, driven in popularity due to their durability, ease of maintenance and cost.

Silicosis cases in California’s artificial stone fabrication industry began increasing in 2019. The alarming spike in silica-exposure lung disease has spurred the state’s Department of Health’s Occupational Health Branch to describe silicosis as an epidemic. 

The Western Occupational and Environmental Medicine Association, which represents more than 600 doctors and other health professionals, claims silica dust is so dangerous that people can’t safely process quartz slabs, even when masked and using equipment that includes water to combat dust. The organization is urging a state ban.

Many affected workers and their employers report they were never fully warned about the dangers of silica dust exposure.

Symptoms of Silicosis

Symptoms of silicosis and silica-exposure lung disease might not appear for years, or even decades, after initial exposure. When they do, they can be mistaken for other respiratory conditions. It’s crucial to be aware of:

• Persistent, sometimes harsh, cough
• Shortness of breath, especially with physical activity
• Fatigue and weakness
• Chest pain
• Fever
• Unexplained weight loss
• Bluish skin (cyanosis) in severe cases

Silicosis was a rare disease before the rise in fabricated stone countertops. As a result, silicosis is frequently misdiagnosed by physicians as lung disease or COPD.

Justice for Countertop Workers with Silica-Exposure Lung Disease

Attorneys and occupational health advocates are increasingly comparing the emerging silica crisis to earlier asbestos litigation because of the devastating and irreversible nature of these illnesses.

In California courts, sick and dying workers are seeking justice from quartz slab makers and countertop vendors. In 2024, a Los Angeles County Superior Court jury awarded $52.4 million to a worker who sued three engineered stone slab makers. 

Workers who developed silicosis or other respiratory illnesses after working with quartz or engineered stone countertops may have legal claims related to:

• Failure to warn about silica exposure lung disease risks
• Product liability involving engineered stone manufacturers

Individuals who work in countertop fabrication, stone cutting, installation, or related construction trades and are experiencing respiratory symptoms should consider seeking medical evaluation and learning about their legal options. Early legal investigation may help preserve evidence.

Legal Help for Workers Exposed to Silica Dust

If your job exposed you to silica dust, you’re not alone—and you may have legal options. Our attorneys represent construction workers, stone fabricators, miners, and others diagnosed with silicosis after workplace exposure. We fight to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and long-term health impacts caused by unsafe working conditions.