Artificial Stone Manufacturer: Caesarstone Ltd. and Caesarstone USA, Inc. –  2020: Misleading Information and Downplaying Risks Hazard Identification: Incorrectly labels the product as “inert” and “stable,” omitting mention of silicosis, a primary health […]

Artificial Stone Manufacturer: Caesarstone Ltd. and Caesarstone USA, Inc. : 2015 – 2020: Spruce Point Capital Management Raises Concerns In 2015, Spruce Point Capital Management issued a scathing report on Caesarstone, recommending a […]

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 […]

A Public Health Emergency Prompts Action: California’s artificial stone industry faces a silica dust epidemic, putting workers at grave risk of developing incurable silicosis. 52 confirmed cases as of July 2023, with many […]

Growing Concern and Calls for a Ban: 2019: Silicosis victims, unions, and medical professionals advocate for a ban due to high worker exposure to silica dust. 2020: Dr. Alison Reid of Curtin University […]

First Cases and Recognition: 1997: First case diagnosed in Israel (Caesarstone worker). 2010-2012: Cases identified in Spain and Italy; exposure linked to quartz conglomerates. 2014: First reported case in North America (Texas). 2017-2019: […]

What is it? Artificial stone, also known as engineered stone, synthetic, quartz, or agglomerate, is a composite material made by binding crushed stone (primarily quartz) with adhesive, typically polyester resin. Invented in the […]

Early Knowledge: Centuries/Millennia: Evidence of occupational silicosis exists in ancient Egypt and Greece, impacting stonecutters, builders, and masons. 1556: Agricola identifies a lung disease affecting stonecutters and miners in his treatise on mining. […]

Stone Types: Natural stone: Basalt, dolomite, granite, limestone, marble, onyx, porcelain, quartzite, sandstone, serpentine, travertine. Artificial stone: Agglomerate, agglomerated stone, conglomerate, engineered stone, manufactured stone, quartz, reconstituted stone, synthetic stone. Silica Content: All […]

The sleek and modern appeal of artificial stone countertops has become a mainstay in home design. However, workers engaged in the fabrication and installation are suffering through an epidemic of silicosis. The risks […]

In the tapestry of healthcare access, some threads remain tragically thin, woven with fear and uncertainty. This is the story of undocumented immigrants, individuals who live and work within our communities, yet often […]

Hidden behind every gleaming engineered stone countertop lies a story. But for many of the workers who bring these surfaces to life, their stories are shrouded in fear and silence. These are the […]