Countertop Industry Seeks Legal Shield From Lawsuits
Getty Images/bukharova
Engineered stone, a staple of modern American kitchens, is now at the center of a legal debate over worker safety. Manufacturers of quartz countertops are lobbying Congress for broad legal immunity against claims from employees suffering health problems, even as hundreds of stone-fabrication workers are being diagnosed with silicosis, a severe lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust. The New York Times reports that a bill in the House would classify quartz alongside vaccines and firearms, limiting the ability of workers to pursue many injury lawsuits.
Companies such as US-based Cambria insist that quartz is safe when handled properly, pointing to poorly regulated fabrication shops as the source of unsafe conditions. Health professionals, workers, and occupational safety experts argue there is no completely safe way to cut engineered stone and maintain that lawsuits play a critical role in funding treatment and encouraging industry changes.
Silicosis, historically a disease of aging miners, is now appearing in much younger workers, many in their 30s and 40s, according to CBS News. Doctors note that the disease develops after years of exposure and may take even longer for symptoms to appear, meaning cases among engineered stone workers only began surfacing around five years ago, well after the material became widely popular. In California, the median age at diagnosis is 46, and the median age at death is 49, with officials warning that cases are likely to continue increasing.
Australia faced a similar surge in illness among stone workers and responded by banning engineered stone with high crystalline silica content in 2024. The Australian government noted that dust from processed engineered stone has unique physical and chemical properties that can accelerate disease progression.
At a House subcommittee hearing in January, GOP Representative Darrell Issa argued for legal protections for the quartz industry, labeling the lawsuits as opportunistic. Democrats highlighted that Cambria’s CEO, Marty Davis, is a significant supporter of President Trump.
About Post Author
