The Health & Safety Executive's focus throughout October on lung-damaging dust, not least the respirable crystalline silica (RCS) that comes from working high crystalline silica content materials such as granite, quartz, sandstone and slate, was just the latest wake-up call to the danger of dust in the workplace. There surely cannot be anyone left in the stone industry who is not aware of the danger of silicosis from working most stones apart from limestone and marble - and even they contain some level of crystalline silica. In the stone industry, silicosis is a lung disease that normally results from exposure to RCS over an extended period, becoming evident only later in life. It can cause fibrosis (hardening, or scarring) of the lung tissue with a consequent loss of lung function. Sufferers are likely to be short of breath. It can become difficult or impossible to walk even short distances, especially climbing stairs. The effect continues to develop after exposure has stopped and is irreversible, just like asbestosis. Sufferers usually eventually become house- or bed-bound and often die prematurely due to heart failure.
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