Exposure to the silica dust created cutting and polishing Engineered quartz countertops is giving some workers severe silicosis a fatal lung disease
The Center for Disease Control has issued the following warning concerning quartz countertops.
“Silicosis is an incurable occupational lung disease caused by inhaling particles of respirable crystalline silica. … Because quartz, a type of crystalline silica, is commonly found in stone, workers who cut, polish, or grindstone materials can be exposed to silica dust.”
Inhaling dust from the cutting and polishing of all countertops is unhealthy. However, the fabrication of engineered quartz countertops has been found to be especially dangerous.
NPR reported in October:
“Artificial stone used to make kitchen and bathroom countertops has been linked to the death of workers.” “As well as irreversible lung injury in workers who cut, grind and polish this increasingly popular material.” Some scientists are comparing the dangers of cutting quartz countertops with coal mining.
In 2016, OSHA issued new workplace limits on how much silica could be airborne at quartz countertop supply sites. Unfortunately, a year later, the Trump administration canceled the safety agency’s national emphasis program for silica.
Main Line Kitchen Design presently sells Quartz countertops. We believe the time has come for responsible retailers to investigate the conditions at their fabrication sites.
Main Line Kitchen Design will talk to industry experts at the National Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, KBIS, held this January in Las Vegas. After we return from the show, we will speak to our fabricators and try to ascertain if their workers are being exposed to these dangers from the countertops we sell.
Main Line Kitchen Design will not sell a dangerous kitchen design to our customers. For example, we do not sell kitchens with ranges and cooktops next to doorways. See our two blogs on this topic: Kitchen designers who don’t protect their customers and is your kitchen designer going to kill you?
If we determine that we cannot sell Quartz countertops without endangering the lives of the people who fabricate them, we will cease selling Engineered Quartz countertops.
Update 8/3/2024
Australia has banned the supply, manufacture, and installation of quartz countertops:
https://www.aiha.org/news/240104-australias-new-engineered-stone-ban-to-begin-in-july
There is a lawsuit against quartz manufacturers brought by fabricators who suffer from silicosis:
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-07-28/silicosis-lawsuit-engineered-stone
The fabricators that Main Line Kitchen Design works with all require their workers to use respirators when cutting and polishing both engineered and natural stone. The jury is still out on the safety issues involved when respirators are used. But certainly extreme caution is needed during countertop fabrication.
Wishing all our customers and the people we work with a safe and happy Holiday Season.
. . . And of course. . .
Bon Appetit!
Paul, Julie, Ed, Chris, John, Lauren, Tom and Stacia
Main Line Kitchen Design
4 Replies to “Engineered Quartz Countertops are Killing Some Countertop Workers.”
Tess
Are there regulations on how they are installed at customers’ homes ? My installer said the template of the countertop is taken and the shape of the countertop, along with the sink opening, is cut at his workshop. Is it true that the holes for the faucet, and other accessory openings have to be done onsite though I was told that it has to be done at my kitchen else it can be off ? Is that true ? I am not sure what precautions would be in place at my home. Thanks
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Hi Tess,
Yes usually the faucet holes are drilled on site after inspecting the faucet you have purchased to make sure everything is done correctly with the correct number and size of holes for the faucet, possible soap dispenser, Insta-hot etc.
My question would be why are you sort of micromanaging how people are doing their jobs? Even as an expert, I let other professionals do things the way that they are used to. Micromanaging leads to problems and bad relationships with the people doing their jobs.
Your job as a customer is to raise issues if the completed work has any issues which may need to be corrected by the installers and to pay the bills on the agreed upon time table.
Getting involved in day to day construction and telling people how to do their job makes you a problematic customer. It won’t get you a better finished result but the contractors won’t like you and if you request additional work not covered in the contract or want the contractor to do additional work for you latter expect to pay at least 25% more than a more than a customer that people enjoyed working with.
Offering the people working on your project coffee, cookies, or ice water is the best way to get the results and the pricing you want.
homeowner
Australia has banned the supply, manufacture, installation of quartz: https://www.aiha.org/news/240104-australias-new-engineered-stone-ban-to-begin-in-july
There is a lawsuit against quartz manufacturers brought by fabricators who suffer from silicosis: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-07-28/silicosis-lawsuit-engineered-stone
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Great links. Thanks for the input. I’m adding these to the blog itself as they really make the issue clear. I have spoken with our fabricators and they all use respirators when they cut both engineered and natural stone. I’m not sure if any studies have been done when fabricators use respirators.