A safety alert has been issued following the deaths of two young tradespeople from a deadly lung disease linked to a popular kitchen worktop
London: The heartbreaking deaths of two young tradespeople have raised serious concerns about safety in the kitchen worktop industry. They both developed a severe lung disease after working with a popular type of engineered stone.
This lung disease, called silicosis, is caused by inhaling harmful silica dust. This dust is released when cutting materials like quartz. Normally, if proper safety measures are followed, the risk can be managed. But with more people renovating their homes, the danger has grown.
One of the victims, Marek Marzec, was just 48 when he passed away in a London hospital. He had spent years cutting these worktops and was diagnosed with silicosis, which left him too weak for a lung transplant. He described the dust as “lethal” and spoke about the terrible working conditions he faced.
Just a few months earlier, 28-year-old Wessam al Jundi also died while waiting for a lung transplant, marking a tragic first in the UK for this disease among engineered stone workers.
Rob Miguel from Unite the Union called the situation a “tragedy” and emphasized that there’s no need for high-silica stone in the UK. In response, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued new guidelines to protect workers from this toxic dust.
The HSE’s guidance stresses that only trained staff should handle engineered stone and outlines strict safety processes. However, some groups, like the Trade Union Congress, are pushing for a complete ban on this type of stone to prevent further deaths.
Silicosis is a long-term, incurable disease, and there have already been at least 18 cases reported in the UK, with the youngest victim being just 24. Symptoms can take years to show up, and even after stopping work with silica, they can worsen.
Common signs of silicosis include a persistent cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue. As the disease progresses, even simple tasks can become challenging, and it can ultimately lead to respiratory failure.
