Two Decades of Stonecutting Led to Silica Dust Lung Damage, Lawsuit Alleges

San Diego stone cutter says manufacturers of artificial stone countertops put workers at risk by not disclosing the dangers of lung damage from silica dust, or providing guidance on proper protective gear.

A California man indicates in a recently filed lawsuit he and other stonecutters have been unnecessarily exposed to silica dust for decades, without adequate warnings or proper instructions about the importance of protective gear that may have helped avoid the risk of developing severe lung damage, like silicosis.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Nabor Ramirez Diaz in California Superior Court in San Diego County on July 2, naming numerous artificial stone and quartz countertop manufacturers, as well as makers of some protective gear used throughout the industry, as defendants.

Diaz joins a growing number of other stonecutters who have filed silicosis lawsuits in recent months, each raising similar allegations that they developed the severe and potentially life-threatening silica dust lung damage while working with the artificial stone products.

Silicosis is an irreversible lung disease that is only known to be caused by routine exposure and inhalation of silica dust, which most often comes from cutting artificial stone products. Silica dust lung damage can cause lung inflammation and scarring, and eventually can develop into lung failure, and the need for lung transplant surgery.

According to the complaint, Diaz worked as a cutter, fabricator, and installer of artificial stone countertops across San Diego from 2003 until March of this year, when he was diagnosed with silicosis.

Diaz claims that he and other workers were given respiratory protection that was either defective or inadequate, leaving them exposed for 23 years to not only silica dust, but also a mix of toxic substances, including metals like aluminum, arsenic and chromium, as well as volatile organic compounds such as benzene and toluene.

As a result, Diaz alleges he developed pulmonary nodules, silicosis, pulmonary fibrosis, progressive massive fibrosis and other forms of lung damage from silica dust exposure.

In addition to the severe lung damage from the silica dust that Diaz has already suffered, the complaint notes that he has “a significantly increased risk of developing other silica-related diseases such as lung cancer, chronic kidney disease, and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and systemic sclerosis (scleroderma).”

Diaz presents claims of negligence, failure to warn, design defect, fraudulent concealment and breach of warranty.

Silicosis Lawsuits

Stonecutters like Diaz have worked for decades in the quartz countertop industry, with many saying they were never given adequate equipment or instructions on how to sufficiently protect themselves from the risks of silica dust lung damage.

This has led to an increasing number of silicosis lawsuits being filed in California state courts, each alleging that manufacturers and employers knew about these risks to workers, but failed to take sufficient measures to educate or protect employees, violating occupational safety regulations.

As a result, lawyers across the United States are providing free case evaluations for individuals who were exposed to silica dust throughout their careers and have subsequently been diagnosed with silicosis.