The Profit Over Safety Problem: How Artificial Stone Manufacturers Failed Workers

The artificial stone countertop industry has boomed in recent years, offering homeowners stylish, durable, and fashionable alternatives to natural stone. However, behind the sleek surfaces of artificial stone (quartz) countertops lies a deadly truth—one that manufacturers have ignored for decades, prioritizing profits over worker safety.

The Deadly Consequences of Crystalline Silica Dust Exposure

Artificial stone contains 90%+ crystalline silica, a mineral that, when cut or ground, releases microscopic dust particles into the air, along with other toxins and carcinogens. When inhaled, this dust causes accelerated silicosis, an incurable lung disease that scars the lungs, leading to severe respiratory failure and death.

A Known Risk for Workers

For years, manufacturers were aware of the risks but failed to properly warn workers about the dangers of artificial stone dust exposure. Instead of investing in safer materials or providing adequate warning labels and training for workers, companies focused on maximizing production and profits, leaving countertop fabricators to pay the ultimate price.

Ignored Warnings and Rising Deaths

Health experts have long sounded the alarm about accelerated silicosis in countertop fabrication workers, but manufacturers downplayed the risks. Even as young, otherwise healthy workers—many in their 30s and 40s—began developing advanced lung disease, industry leaders allegedly failed to act.

Recent reports have revealed:

• Over 300 cases of silicosis among California countertop workers.
• At least 14 deaths and 26 lung transplants tied to artificial stone exposure.
• Experts warn that most artificial stone countertop fabrication workers could develop the disease.

Despite these numbers, manufacturers have repeatedly shifted blame to supposed unsafe workplaces instead of acknowledging their role in selling hazardous products, without proper warnings, that cannot be safely fabricated.

Lawsuits and Legislative Efforts

With the growing number of sick workers, lawsuits are now being filed against artificial stone manufacturers and suppliers. One recent case assessed more than $52 million to a California worker who developed accelerated silicosis. Attorneys representing workers explain that nothing short of a ban on artificial stone—as Australia has already implemented—will prevent future deaths.

Too Little, Too Late

Meanwhile, California lawmakers have introduced Senate Bill 20, aiming to certify fabrication shops and ban dry cutting, a particularly dangerous practice. However, experts warn that these measures are simply not enough. There are no economically feasible ways to protect artificial stone fabrication workers from the nano-sized silica particles released when fabricating these products and even low-silica products pose serious health risks.

Holding Manufacturers Accountable – Brayton Purcell LLP

At Brayton Purcell LLP, we are fighting for justice on behalf of workers exposed to the dangers of artificial stone fabrication. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with artificial stone silicosis, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact Brayton Purcell LLP today or give us a call at (800) 361-2417 to discuss your legal rights and potential compensation.