Long-term exposure to respirable silica dust found in materials like stone, sand, concrete, and artificial stone can lead to silicosis, a debilitating and incurable lung disease. Workers across multiple industries, including construction, mining, demolition, masonry, and manufacturing, may face this risk daily. Manufacturers and employers have faced lawsuits for failing to warn workers about these dangers. If you’ve worked with silica-containing materials and are now suffering from breathing problems, Jim Glaser Law may be able to help you pursue compensation.
Struggling With Breathing Problems After Working Around Silica Dust?
Silica dust exposure can happen in many industries. Workers in construction, mining, masonry, sandblasting, and more are at risk of developing silicosis, a serious and irreversible lung disease. If you’ve developed breathing problems after working with stone, concrete, sand, or other silica-containing materials, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact us today to learn more!
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Legal Experience
Jim Glaser has 30 years of experience serving clients across Massachusetts. Our team has in-depth legal knowledge and a wealth of industry connections to help you prove your silicosis claim.
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Our team offers clear communication and honest legal advice to help you understand your rights. We’re here to serve you. At Jim Glaser Law, we’ll do everything we can to restore your health and finances.
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Mass Torts
We aren’t afraid to take on the biggest companies when they manufacture defective or dangerous products. Our attorneys handle mass torts, multi-district litigation, and high-profile personal injury cases.
Table of Contents
- What Is Silicosis?
- Who’s at Risk for Developing Silicosis?
- What Products May Cause Silicosis?
- National Silicosis Lawsuits
- Who’s Responsible for Silicosis?
- Damages Available in Silicosis Lawsuits
- How Massachusetts Silicosis Lawyer Jim Glaser Can Help
- Massachusetts Silicosis Lawsuit FAQs
- Get a Free Case Review With a Local Silicosis Lawyer
What Is Silicosis?
Silicosis is a chronic lung disease linked to the inhalation of silica dust. This crystalline mineral made from silicon dioxide (SiO₂) is found in quartz, sand, stone, concrete, and other common building materials. Micro-particles known as respirable crystalline silica (RCS) are released when stone and manufactured alternatives are mined, manufactured, cut, and polished. These tiny particles evade the body’s natural defense systems and enter deep into the lungs. Over time, they cause inflammation and scarring of the alveoli, the air sacs that are responsible for exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide in the bloodstream. This can lead to serious breathing issues and irreversible lung damage.
Common Silicosis Symptoms
Silicosis typically takes several years to a decade or more to develop. Workers may not notice warning signs until permanent lung damage has occurred. The condition is typically diagnosed by chest X-rays, CT scans, and oxygen levels. These are a few of the most common silicosis symptoms:
- Shortness of breath or chest tightness
- Persistent cough, either dry or productive
- Fatigue from decreased oxygen levels
- Respiratory failure due to poor oxygen exchange
- Fever or night sweats due to infection
- Cyanosis in the lips, fingers, or nailbeds
- Enlarged fingertips due to low oxygen levels
- Secondary health concerns, such as TB
Who’s at Risk for Developing Silicosis?
Silicosis is an occupational illness associated with stonecutters, miners, and material handlers. Workers in California were the first to file lawsuits for injuries from quartz countertops. However, silicosis affects workers in Massachusetts and across the country. Individuals in the following industries have the highest risk:
- Stonecutting and masonry
- Construction and demolition
- Countertop and surface installation
- Glass and stone manufacturing
- Polishing and refinishing
- Ceramics and pottery
- Mining and quarrying
- Sandblasting
What Products May Cause Silicosis?
Silicosis is caused by inhaling respirable crystalline silica (RCS) particles, which are released during tasks like cutting, grinding, drilling, or crushing materials containing silica. These materials include natural stone, artificial stone, sand, concrete, brick, mortar, glass, and certain construction products.
While engineered stone countertops, especially those made from quartz, have drawn attention due to high-profile lawsuits, workers in many trades face dangerous silica exposure. Construction crews, miners, foundry workers, and those in glass and ceramic manufacturing are all at risk.
According to the U.S. International Trade Commission, the import of quartz surfaces into the United States rose by 800% between 2010 and 2018, contributing to an increased risk among countertop fabricators and installers. As a result, several manufacturers and retailers have been named in silicosis-related lawsuits. These include:
- Caesarstone USA, an engineered stone maker based in Israel
- Cambria Company LLC, a U.S.-based quartz countertop manufacturer
- Cosentino, the Spanish manufacturer of Silestone
- Distributors and retailers such as Lowes and Home Depot
If you’ve worked with silica-containing products and now suffer from lung issues, legal help may be available.
National Silicosis Lawsuits
In August 2024, California stonecutter Gustavo Reyes Gonzalez was the first plaintiff to receive a jury verdict in his silicosis lawsuit. The 34-year-old plaintiff was awarded $8 million of the $44 million in damages requested, as the L.A. County jury found that the manufacturer was only partly responsible for the injuries. More than 20 other defendants settled their claims out of court. The companies that were found responsible during the trial include Caesarstone USA, Cambria, and Color Marble, an L.A.-based stone distributor. While the Gonzalez case was the first major silicosis lawsuit to go to trial, there has been a flood of recent lawsuits. Government officials are still trying to determine how many workers may be affected.
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Who’s Responsible for Silicosis?
From a legal perspective, silicosis can be both a workplace injury and a product liability claim. This dual nature can complicate determining who is at fault. Because silicosis may take 5 to 15 years to develop, it’s often difficult to trace the exposure back to a specific job site, product, or employer, especially when documentation like purchase orders or safety records is unavailable.
Workers in construction, mining, manufacturing, demolition, and stone fabrication may be at risk, and liability may fall on multiple parties across the supply chain. If you’re suffering from silica-related illness, working with an experienced trial attorney is key to identifying all sources of liability and building a strong claim.
Here are 2 primary groups that may be held accountable in silicosis cases:
Employers across many industries are required to take reasonable steps to protect workers from inhaling silica dust. When they fail to provide proper ventilation, dust suppression systems, respirators, or personal protective equipment (PPE), they may be found liable.
Juries are often more likely to hold employers accountable when they ignore known risks or fail to follow updated OSHA safety standards. Fault may also lie in failing to repair or replace defective safety equipment, such as a malfunctioning wet-cutting saw, or neglecting to implement proper dust control practices.
Workers exposed on the job may be eligible to file a workers’ compensation claim in Massachusetts. Benefits can cover medical treatment and partial wage replacement for both short- and long-term disabilities.
Manufacturers of silica-containing products, from engineered stone to industrial sand to construction materials, may also be liable if they failed to warn about the risks or knowingly downplayed the dangers.
In the landmark Reyes Gonzalez lawsuit, attorneys argued that workers were exposed to dangerous levels of silica dust even with functioning safety equipment, as the particles were too small to be seen or fully filtered. Some experts have described artificial stone as a “uniquely toxic” material, but manufacturers argue that proper safety technology can mitigate the risks.
However, evidence continues to surface that some manufacturers downplayed hazards. For example, Cosentino, the maker of Silestone, faced lawsuits alleging it concealed the risks of its products. In July 2024, Australia moved to ban artificial stone entirely, a signal that regulators and courts are taking silica exposure more seriously around the world.
Damages Available in Silicosis Lawsuits
Silicosis is an incredibly difficult, progressive disease that deprives hard-working, skilled tradespeople of the one thing they need to live: oxygen. In advanced cases, patients may need lung transplants to restore normal respiratory function if the tissue is damaged and scarring is severe. Some plaintiffs have been awarded considerable damages for their medical care and pain and suffering although some verdicts are still being appealed. Here’s a quick look at some of the damages that may be available in a silicosis lawsuit.
- Medical Expenses: From chest X-rays and surgical procedures to breathing treatments and respiratory therapy, silicosis can result in considerable medical bills. A knowledgeable personal injury attorney can help you recover damages for past and future medical care, including medications.
- Lost Income: Breathing issues can affect your ability to work and support your family. Additionally, many contractors, carpenters, and cabinet installers have specialized skills and talents that do not translate to other industries or don’t offer the same level of compensation they may deserve. At Jim Glaser Law, our goal is to ensure that you are fully compensated for any lost wages. If you’re disabled, you may be entitled to lost income until retirement age.
- Pain and Suffering: Plaintiffs in silicosis lawsuits are also entitled to non-economic damages for pain and suffering. Dealing with breathing issues and struggling to perform daily activities, such as mowing the lawn, getting groceries or playing with the kids, can cause considerable mental and emotional hardship that you deserve to be compensated for.
How Massachusetts Silicosis Lawyer Jim Glaser Can Help
While silicosis can develop gradually over years or decades, the diagnosis can change your life over night. At Jim Glaser Law, we focus on helping clients go up against the biggest companies when their products cause serious injuries. See how we can help:
- Responsive Service: Whether you need an initial consultation, a second-opinion, or have a question about a pending case, we’re here to help you. Although the legal process is slow, our goal is to help your case move as efficiently as possible.
- Clear Communication: Talking to lawyers and dealing with major medical bills can be overwhelming. We try to simplify the process and speak to you in your own language without any fancy legal terms. We’ll always give you our best advice when it comes to your case.
- Aggressive Representation: Jim Glaser is a nationally recognized trial attorney with 30 years of experience. He will analyze the facts of your case, explain your options, and help you pursue maximum compensation for your injuries.
Massachusetts Silicosis Lawsuit FAQs
It typically takes 15 years or more for symptoms of chronic silicosis to develop. Timelines vary greatly depending on the degree, frequency, and duration of exposure. Symptoms can develop much faster than previously thought. With the rising popularity of manufactured quartz countertops, there’s been an increase in acute and accelerated silicosis cases that develop in less than 5 years, especially in young workers.
Absolutely, PPE is essential for anyone who is cutting, finishing, or polishing quartz countertops. Masks are not enough. Manufacturers have finally updated their safety instructions. They recommend wet-cutting to reduce dust, powered respirators to prevent inhalation, and HEPA-vacuums for cleanup. However, there may still be health risks due to residual particles.
Engineered stone countertops sold as quartz or quartzite contain the highest concentration of silica. They’re about 90-95% silica, and the remainder is made from resins and colorants, which may also cause breathing issues when inhaled. Natural granite countertops also contain a moderate amount of naturally occurring silica (about 20-45%), as do ceramic and porcelain tiles.
Yes, quartz and RCS have been linked to other health conditions besides silicosis. According to the CDC and OSHA, heavy silica exposure has been linked to kidney damage. About 10% of stone workers with silicosis also have kidney disease due to the inflammatory particles. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has labeled RCS as a Group 1 carcinogen based on the risk of lung cancer. Workers may also be diagnosed with COPD before they develop full-blown silicosis.
It’s difficult to say if there is a safe level of exposure. However, OSHA regulations set the permissible exposure limit for RCS at 50 μg/m3 as an 8-hour weighted average. Per industrial hygiene practices, the action level is 25 μg/m3, which means that employers must take steps to control pollution levels and monitor employee’s health at this stage.
Get a Free Case Review With a Local Silicosis Lawyer
If you worked in the construction, mining, or manufacturing industry and have developed breathing issues due to silica or quartz exposure, we may be able to help you recover compensation from your employer or the manufacturer. Personal injury attorney Jim Glaser has 30 years of legal experience helping clients in Sharon, Boston, and all of Massachusetts. We have a team of attorneys to fight for your rights. If you’re outside the area, we can refer you to a legal professional in your jurisdiction. Contact us today to schedule a free, confidential consultation.