Blog

A Shadow of Silica: Unveiling the Falsehoods in Cosentino's 2006 Silestone MSDS

Cosentino's 2006 Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for Silestone paints a deceptive picture, glossing over its hazardous nature and potentially putting countless workers at risk. Here's a closer look at the falsehoods and misrepresentations buried within the document:

False Claims of Safety:

• Multiple sections declare Silestone "does not involve a risk for health," a blatant lie considering its high crystalline silica content, a known cause of silicosis and other lung diseases.
• Section 3 downplays the risk of silicosis, calling it a consequence of "prolonged exposure" without specifying the timeframe, leaving workers in the dark about the product's immediate dangers.
• Section 4 falsely assures workers normal use is safe, ignoring the inherent risk of respirable silica dust generation during fabrication.
• Section 6 minimizes the need for protective measures, stating "special measures are not necessary," while failing to acknowledge the mandatory precautions required for handling a product like Silestone.

Misleading Information:

• Section 2 hides the identities of three additives behind cryptic chemical codes, hindering workers' right to informed safety precautions.
• Section 3 suggests wet cutting methods merely "reduce" dust, whereas they are essential to prevent silicosis. The recommended ventilation specifications remain vague and inadequate.
• Section 7 grossly underestimates the permissible exposure limit for respirable crystalline silica, potentially exposing workers to levels 20 times higher than safe.
• Section 10 falsely compares Silestone to natural stone, ignoring its unique toxicological properties like high ultrafine silica content and metal fumes from additives.

Deceptive Disclaimers:

• Section 15 reiterates the false claim of Silestone not being classified as dangerous despite clear violations of European regulations for "very toxic" substances.
• Section 16 attempts to exonerate Cosentino by claiming "guarantees" within the MSDS are just suggestions while simultaneously declaring the information "true and exact," implying a contradictory guarantee of safety.

The Consequences:

These falsehoods and misleading information in the MSDS likely misled workers and employers, potentially leading to:

• Increased exposure to respirable silica dust: Uninformed workers might not take adequate precautions, putting themselves at risk of developing silicosis, a debilitating and often fatal lung disease.
• Delayed diagnosis and treatment: Workers unaware of the true risks might attribute symptoms to other causes, delaying diagnosis and hindering timely treatment.
• Lack of accountability: Cosentino's deceptive MSDS makes it difficult to hold them accountable for the health consequences of their product.

Unveiling the Truth:

By exposing the falsehoods within the 2006 MSDS, we shed light on a potentially dangerous situation. This information empowers workers and employers to demand transparency and prioritize safety protocols to protect themselves from the true dangers of Silestone.