Look here for links to the latest news publications regarding the epidemic of silicosis among engineered stone workers:
April 12, 2024- The Hill–Incurable and unconscionable: How immigrants are contracting deadly lung disease making kitchen countertops. Brayton Purcell is referenced in an article published by The Hill, which highlights the alarming issue of silicosis among Latino immigrant workers in California. These workers, many of whom are involved in manufacturing quartz kitchen countertops, are contracting this deadly lung disease due to exposure to silica dust. The fabrication of quartz, a material containing over 90 percent silica, releases fine dust particles that, when inhaled, lead to the disease.
April 3, 2024 – KTLA 5 – Officials introduce legislation to address incurable lung disease epidemic in Los Angeles
February 21, 2024 – San Fernando Valley Sun – A Silicosis Epidemic in the Northeast San Fernando Valley
February 7, 2024 – The Progressive Magazine – Welcome to the Cancer Factory
February 6, 2024 – CBS Morning News – The production of crushed quartz countertops may be causing deadly lung issues in workers
February 2, 2024 – Sidney Morning Harold – Scope of benchtop ban under review to guard against loopholes
December 27, 2023 – Univisión – Silicosis: la enfermedad causada por cortar la piedra que se usa para cocinas y baños
December 14, 2023 – Public Health Watch – California Issues Emergency Rule to Address Silicosis Epidemic
December 14, 2023 – LA List – California Issues Emergency Rule To Address Silicosis Epidemic
December 14, 2023 – KQED – California Regulators Approve Emergency Rules to Protect Stonecutters From Deadly Disease
December 14, 2023 – Los Angeles Times – California embraces emergency rules to protect countertop workers from incurable silicosis
December 13, 2023 – Safe Work Australia – Engineered stone prohibition to make workplaces safer and healthier for all Australians
December 11, 2023 – KQED – California Regulators to Vote on Emergency Rules for Stonecutters’ Safety
December 4, 2022 – Univision – La enfermedad silenciosa que está amenazando la salud y las vidas de muchos trabajadores inmigrantes
November 24, 2023 – Sidney Morning Herald – The stone benchtop ad that found its way into a major US lawsuit
November 19, 2023 – Los Angeles Times – California countertop workers died of a preventable disease. The threat was known years earlier and in Spanish: Trabajadores de mostrador de California murieron de silicosis a pesar de años de advertencias
November 15, 2023 – The Guardian – Ikea joins Bunnings in banning engineered stone products linked to silicosis
November 14, 2023 – Sidney Morning Herald – Bunnings to stop selling engineered stone
November 10, 2023 – Safe Work Australia’s damning report on engineered stone could lead to a total ban
November 1, 2023 – ABC News – Video: Debate continues about the use of deadly engineered stone
October 31, 2023 – Daily Mail – IKEA becomes the latest store to face pressure to pull kitchen benchtops causing fatal disease from its stores
October 30, 2023 – SafeWork SA – Prohibition on the use of engineered stone
October 30, 2023 – The National Tribune – CFMEU urges all governments not to shirk responsibility on engineered stone
October 29, 2023 – ABC Net News – Damning silicosis report calls for world-first ban on deadly engineered stone — will governments listen?
October 28, 2023 – City Hub Sidney – “The asbestos of the 2020s”: Unions push for engineered stone ban
October 25, 2023 – The Sydney Morning Herald – Engineered stone review puts total ban on the table
October 25, 2023 – The New Daily – Unions announce July 2024 deadline for engineered stone benchtops to halt killer disease
October 24, 2023 – 7 News Australia – Workers call to ban engineered stone over deadly silicosis
October 18, 2023 – Union: Caesarstone’s Killer Stone Protection Campaign Evil
October 17, 2023 – Caesarstone launches advertising blitz over potential benchtop ban
October 8, 2023 – Commentary: No one should have to die for our fancy countertops
September 30, 2023 – The Los Angeles Times – Letters to the Editor: How deadly are your beautiful new stone countertops?
September 29, 2023 – The Los Angeles Times – Engineered stone counter tops are killing workers at high rates. What can consumers do about it?
September 29, 2023 – The Sydney Morning Herald – This deadly disease should be relegated to the dustbin of history. Instead, it’s surging
September 25, 2023 – OSHA National Reliance News – Department of Labor announces enforcement, compliance initiative to protect workers from silica exposure in engineered stone fabrication, installation
September 25, 2023 – Bloomberg Law – Safety Regulator Aims to Protect Workers From ‘Engineered Stone’ – Featuring Brayton Purcell LLP client Leobardo Segura Meza
September 25, 2023 – SK Pop – What is Silicosis? California workers who cut countertops afflicted by incurable lung disease – Featuring Brayton Purcell LLP client Leobardo Segura Meza
September 24, 2023 – Mirror – Silicosis killing young workers who cut countertops as incurable disease destroys lungs – Featuring Brayton Purcell LLP client Leobardo Segura Meza
September 24, 2023 – Los Angeles Times – California workers who cut countertops are dying of an incurable disease – Featuring Brayton Purcell LLP client Leobardo Segura Meza
September 15, 2023 – 7 News Australia – Aussie Tradies Call For Nationwide Ban on Manufactured Stone Benchtops to Prevent Silicosis
September 14, 2023 – KCBS – As Prescribed: The Deadly Truth About Synthetic Countertops
September 14, 2023 – Hospitality Design – With Quartz Linked to Silicosis, Manufacturers Seek Alternatives
September 11, 2023 – Sydney Morning Herald – Federal Government Under Pressure to Release Safe Work’s Benchtop Ban Report
August 15, 2023 – Financial Review – CFMEU to Push Labor Conference on Engineered Stone Ban – “Any suggestion engineered stone can be used safely is a lie designed to perpetuate an industry which preys on the lives of Australian workers. We’ve seen people contract silicosis and other diseases even with PPE because the tiny killer particles penetrate masks.”
July 25, 2023 – NBC News – Quartz Countertops Linked to Deadly Lung Disease in Workers Who Fabricate the Material
July 24, 2023 – New York Post – Fancy Quartz Countertops are Killing People Who Make Them, Doctors Say
July 24, 2023 – NPR – Young Men Making Quartz Countertops Are Facing Lung Damage – One State is Taking Action
July 22, 2023 – KQED – California Fast-Tracks Rules to Protect Stonecutters From ‘Horrible’ Deaths – featuring Brayton Purcell LLP client Leobardo Segura-Meza following his July 20, 2023 testimony before the Cal-OSHA Standards Board.
July 21, 2023 – KQED – New Workplace Rules to Be Put in Place to Better Regulate Silica Dust
June 22, 2023 – Monash University – World’s Most Comprehensive Study of Stone Benchtop Workers Reveals An Alarming High Prevalence of Silicosis
February 19, 2023 – 60 Minutes Australia – Video – What Your Dream Renovation is Really Doing to Workers’ Health
December 21, 2019 – NPR – A New Safety Program Takes On Silica Dust Amid a Possible Crisis
December 2, 2019 – ‘There’s No Good Dust’: What Happens After Quartz Countertops Leave the Factory
November 21, 2019 – NPR – ‘It’s Going to Get Worse’: How U.S. Countertop Workers Started Getting Sick
October 29, 2019 – CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) – Outbreak of Silicosis Among Engineered Stone Countertop Workers in Four States
October 7, 2019 – NPR – Lawmakers Seek Protections for Workers Against Lung Damage Tied to Making Countertops
October 2, 2019 – NPR – Workers Are Falling Ill, Even Dying, After Making Kitchen Countertops
September 2019 – CDPH (California Department of Public Heath) – Occupational Health Alert – Silicosis Outbreak in Engineered Stone Fabrication Workers – 18 Cases in 4 States
March 2019 – CDPH (California Department of Public Heath) – Health Advisory on Stone Fabrication Hazards – Severe Lung Disease From Inhaling Silica Dust
Additionally, NPR (National Public Radio) maintains a Special Series – Silicosis in U.S. Countertop Workers that includes an updated list of news stories on this topic.
Discuss Your Potential Case With a Law Firm – Free Analysis
Fabricators and other workers of engineered stone (Quartz) (artificial) (manufactured) countertops, if a doctor has diagnosed you with silicosis or lung cancer, contact an attorney for a free case evaluation, we recommend that you call 866-809-5178 or complete a contact form today.