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Caesarstone's Alleged Knowledge of the Silicosis Epidemic From 1987 to 2015

Artificial Stone Manufacturer: Caesarstone Ltd. and Caesarstone USA, Inc. : 1987 - 2015:

• Caesarstone Ltd. is a publicly traded Israeli company that produces artificial stone slabs for kitchen and bathroom countertops.
• It was founded in 1987 and has headquarters in Israel, with production facilities in Israel and the US.
• Caesarstone USA, Inc. is the American subsidiary of Caesarstone Ltd. It was incorporated in 1999 and became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Caesarstone Ltd. in 2011.

Caesarstone product and its hazards:

• Caesarstone's primary product is an artificial stone slab containing approximately 93% crystalline silica, 7% polymeric resin, and pigments/additives.
• This high silica content makes it extremely toxic and poses a significant risk of silicosis to workers who fabricate and install it.
• Caesarstone was allegedly aware of the dangers of its product since at least 1997, when the first case of Caesarstone-induced silicosis was diagnosed in Israel.

Caesarstone's actions regarding safety:

• Despite allegedly knowing the risks, Caesarstone did not put warning labels on its products until 2010, after a documentary aired in Israel exposing worker deaths from silicosis.
• The initial warning labels were allegedly small and lacked hazard symbols, raising concerns about their effectiveness.
• It allegedly took until 2020 for Caesarstone to include hazard symbols on its labels.

Legal and financial implications:

• Caesarstone has faced numerous lawsuits from injured workers and their families in Israel and the US.
• The company allegedly acknowledges the potential financial impact of these lawsuits and related insurance costs in its filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

Caesarstone's March 26, 2012 Safety Data Sheet:

This document allegedly contained several false and misleading statements about the health hazards of Caesarstone®, a product primarily composed of crystalline silica.

Key Deceptions:

• Allegedly concealed the true silica content: While allegedly claiming the product wasn't hazardous, Caesarstone allegedly failed to disclose the high silica concentration (over 90%), a known respiratory hazard.
• Allegedly downplayed the severity of risks: Statements about "upper respiratory tract irritation" allegedly minimized the actual danger of silicosis, a chronic and potentially fatal lung disease caused by silica inhalation.
• Allegedly misrepresented exposure requirements for silicosis: Caesarstone allegedly implied "overexposure" was necessary for developing silicosis, while allegedly knowing exposure to even small amounts of silica dust can cause the disease.
• Allegedly ignored established research: Despite evidence linking silica to lung cancer, Caesarstone allegedly falsely claimed studies showed limited evidence of this connection.
• Allegedly provided inadequate safety instructions: Recommendations for general ventilation and organic vapor respirators were allegedly misleading and insufficient to protect workers from respirable silica dust.

Consequences of these alleged deceptions:

• Caesarstone's actions allegedly put workers at risk of developing silicosis, a serious and irreversible illness.
• The company's alleged conduct raises ethical concerns about prioritizing profits over worker safety and health.