Diresco NV and Diresco USA, LLC

Diresco, a Belgian manufacturer specializing in artificial stone, has come under scrutiny for its handling of safety information regarding its quartz products. The company, which boasts a strong international presence and a reputation for innovation, has been criticized for providing misleading information in its Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).

The MSDS issued by Diresco in January 2018 contained statements suggesting that the finished Diresco® Quartz Surfaces posed no risk, which is misleading considering that the fabrication process of these surfaces involves the release of respirable crystalline silica dust. This dust is known to cause serious health issues, including silicosis, lung cancer, and other respiratory diseases. Despite acknowledging the dangers of inhaling crystalline silica particles in the same document, Diresco failed to provide this crucial safety data sheet to workers or their employers, nor did it translate the document into languages like Spanish to ensure wider comprehension among non-English speaking laborers.

Moreover, the MSDS provided inadequate instructions for protective measures, suggesting that respiratory protection was only necessary in cases of insufficient ventilation. This advice grossly underestimates the necessity of using specific types of respirators to prevent silicosis, misleading workers about the level of protection needed when handling the product.

Diresco’s approach to product safety and worker protection raises significant concerns. The company’s failure to adequately communicate the health risks associated with its products, coupled with insufficient guidance on protective measures, demonstrates a disregard for the well-being of those who work with these materials. This negligence is particularly alarming given the severe and often irreversible health conditions caused by exposure to crystalline silica dust.