Urgent health warning over popular kitchen worktop after 'tragic' deaths of young tradespeople
A major safety alert has been issued for a popular kitchen worktop following the "tragic" deaths of two young tradespeople.
The UK's Health and Safety Eatchdog has drawn attention to a deadly lung disease which comes from breathing in toxic silica dust when cutting man-made stone, like quartz, without proper safety measures. It has this week issued new advice for those who regularly come into contact with the substance.
Cutting the engineered stone slabs - which are hugely popular with homeowners who are snapping them up more and more as part of their home refurbs - can shred lungs and lead to an aggressive form of silicosis when inhaled.
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Dad-of-three Marek Marzec died in November just weeks after speaking to The i Paper from his London hospital bed, where he was receiving end-of-life care for the deadly lung disease.
The worker was informed he had just weeks to live after developing the disease brought on by years of cutting kitchen worktops. The 48-year-old had been too ill to undergo a potentially lifesaving lung transplant. He called the dust "lethal" and complained of "appalling" work conditions that led him to his deathbed.
Marzec's death followed that of Wessam al Jundi, 28, who died in hospital in May while waiting for a lung transplant in what is believed to be the first confirmed death from silicosis in a UK engineered stone worker.
Rob Miguel, national health and safety adviser at Unite the Union previously called the the global artificial stone silicosis outbreak a “tragedy," adding "there is no need for high-silica stone use in the UK".
The developments have moved the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to issue the first official guidance related to the man-made stone. The body has warned employers to stop workers from breathing in the toxic silica dust.
The new HSE guidance, issued on Tuesday (January 7), warns that engineered stone must be installed by competent staff following effective processes, along with releasing pre, on-site and post-installation requirements.
The plan has not appeased certain bodies like the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and United the Union, who are calling for an outright ban on engineered stone. The TUC said doing so would "prevent hundreds of deaths".
What is silicosis and how does it become deadly?
Silicosis is a long-term and incurable lung disease with at least 18 UK cases so far identified, the youngest in a man aged just 24.
The symptoms of silicosis usually take many years to develop, and you may not notice any problems until after you've stopped working with silica dust, according to the NHS. The symptoms can also continue to get worse, even if you're no longer exposed.
The main symptoms of silicosis are a persistent cough, persistent shortness of breath, and weakness and tiredness. If the condition continues to get worse, these symptoms may become more severe.
Some people may eventually find simple activities such as walking or climbing stairs very difficult and may be largely confined to their house or bed.
The condition can ultimately be fatal if the lungs stop working properly (respiratory failure) or serious complications develop.
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