More than 1,000 UK stonemasons could have silicosis from cutting popular quartz kitchen worktops without proper safety measures in place, analysis shared with The i Paper shows.
The report sets out the case for a targeted national screening programme of the some 7,000 tradespeople who currently work with the high-silica stone in the UK to identify cases of the lung disease as soon as possible.
Sent to senior NHS officials, the analysis by leading workplace health and hygiene experts shows early detection of cases through screening would help prevent stonemasons exposed to dangerous silica dust from becoming more seriously ill.
Shorts
Early diagnosis of silicosis can stop the disease progressing in around half of cases, if the worker is removed from exposure to the dust, the study said.
