OSTON (WWLP) – The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has issued a safety alert urging employers in the stone countertop fabrication industry to protect workers from silica dust exposure after confirming the state’s first case of silicosis.
Silicosis is a preventable but incurable lung disease caused by inhaling crystalline silica, commonly found in granite and other stones. The confirmed case involves a Hispanic man in his 40s who has worked in stone countertop fabrication and installation for 14 years.
Cutting, polishing, or grinding stone can generate silica dust, which, if inhaled, can cause silicosis. The disease has become more prevalent among stone fabrication workers due to the increasing popularity of engineered stone, which contains over 90% silica.
“Silicosis is a devastating, life-altering disease – and one that is also absolutely preventable,” said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. “Massachusetts employers in industries where workers are exposed to silica dust have a responsibility to protect their workforce, including from harmful airborne dust. No worker should have to suffer from a chronic and insidious lung disease or possibly die because of a preventable exposure at work.”
Most cases of silicosis are work-related, with a long latency period between exposure and symptom development. Early symptoms include cough, mucus, and shortness of breath, progressing to fatigue, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. Silicosis increases the risk of other lung diseases, such as lung cancer and tuberculosis.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) updated rules in 2016 to limit exposure to respirable silica dust, requiring ventilation and other methods to protect workers.
The following are additional tips for those in the stone countertop industry:
- Use effective dust control methods, such as wet cutting or proper dust collection systems.
- Make sure fabrication work takes place in well-ventilated areas.
- Follow housekeeping practices that minimize dust in the air, such as wet sweeping or using a HEPA-filtered vacuum.
- Periodically assess the levels of silica dust in the workplace.
- Enroll workers in a medical surveillance program that includes periodic exams by a qualified health care provider.
- Develop and implement a written exposure control plan.
- Train employees in their preferred languages on the health effects associated with silica dust and related control methods as part of a hazard communication program.
- Provide workers with appropriate respirators based on the task and ensure they are used correctly with an accompanying respiratory protection program.
Health care providers are encouraged to actively surveil silicosis by asking patients about their work history, as early diagnosis can help slow disease progression. Silicosis is a reportable condition in Massachusetts, and providers are required to report suspected cases.
With the growing demand for engineered stone products, additional cases of silicosis are expected to emerge, highlighting the need for coordinated efforts among public health officials, employers, and health care providers to protect worker health.
All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WWLP. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat information into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WWLP staff before being published.