September 30, 2026
Construction work is inherently risky. Workers face a wide range of dangers, from hazardous tasks where a wrong move can cause serious physical harm to dangerous chemicals and toxins in the air that can be ingested and cause serious illness.
Public health authorities are seeing an alarming increase in a deadly disease called silicosis, a progressive and potentially fatal lung disease caused by breathing in crystalline silica dust. The disease is spreading in conjunction with the growing popularity of engineered or artificial stone countertops, which are now the most popular countertop material in the U.S. Workers who fabricate, cut, grind or polish these products are at particular risk of developing silicosis.
What Causes Silicosis?
When inhaled, silica dust embeds deep inside the lungs, damaging cells within the lungs’ tiny air sacs and causing irreversible lung damage.
Until recently, silicosis was known as a disease that had a long latency period between exposure and the appearance of symptoms. The high silica content in engineered stone countertops is causing workers to be exposed to greater concentrations of silica dust, which is resulting in the more-rapid appearance of serious lung disease symptoms.
There are three ways that silicosis develops:
How To Identify Silicosis Symptoms
Primary silicosis symptoms include:
Crystalline silica also causes other long-term health effects, including:
Workers Exposed to Dangerous Fabricated Stone Products Without Warning
Manufacturers, distributors and retailers are profiting from the increasing popularity of engineered stone countertops. They’ve long known about the health risks associated with silica dust but have failed to take adequate precautions or warn workers about those dangers.
What Should You Do if You Exhibit Symptoms of Silicosis Disease?
Workers who have developed lung disease after exposure to silica dust may be eligible for monetary damages to cover their medical expenses, lost wages and other damages. That’s why it’s important to contact silicosis lawyers who have expertise in this area and can help workers determine if they can file a silicosis lawsuit.
Workers unable to work due to silicosis symptoms, who have been diagnosed with silicosis (even if it has not yet affected their work), or who have incurred medical bills as a result of a silicosis diagnosis may be eligible to bring forward a case.
Seek justice with the help of our experienced silicosis attorneys. Our law firm represents workers exposed to dangerous silica dust on the job, aggressively fighting to hold negligent manufacturers accountable. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with silicosis or developed symptoms after workplace exposure, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact us today for a free, confidential case evaluation.
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