The widows of two stonemasons, Paul Gray and Stuart Johnson, have raised alarms about the risks associated with what is being termed the “new asbestos.” Both men succumbed to a lung condition known as silicosis, which they contracted through prolonged exposure to silica dust while working in stone production.
According to law firm Irwin Mitchell, which represented the families of Gray and Johnson, West Yorkshire has become a significant “hotspot” for silica exposure. Following a surge in reported silicosis cases, the firm has initiated a national register aimed at documenting incidents involving stoneworkers and silica dust contact.
Gray, who began his career as a stone dresser in 1997, operated both power and hand tools to create paving slabs from reclaimed stone. Despite his initial good health, he began experiencing breathing issues in 2017, ultimately leading to his death four years later.
“Paul’s loss has been simply devastating, both for me and our son Daniel," stated his widow, Joanne Gray. “We had to watch Paul slowly decline for nearly four years. You feel so helpless.”
Similarly, Johnson worked with high-silica Delph sandstone and gritstone. He developed a persistent cough in 2013, but it worsened significantly after he collapsed at work in 2017. Diagnosed just 14 months before his passing, he had been previously described as “fit and active.”
His wife, Carol Johnson, expressed her anguish: “Watching the terrible illness take Stuart away from us over several years was terrible.”
Both men sought legal counsel before their deaths to ascertain how they were exposed to silica dust. The Health and Safety Executive has identified silica dust as the “single biggest risk” facing construction workers today, second only to asbestos.
Families have urged employers to enhance workplace safety measures. Both Gray and Johnson reported that they were never informed about the dangers posed by silica dust nor provided with protective gear.
Irwin Mitchell highlighted that many stonemasons and workers at quarries across Leeds and Bradford have come forward seeking legal help due to similar health issues.
Oliver Collett, an occupational disease specialist at Irwin Mitchell, remarked:
“Silica is often termed the new asbestos and its threat should never be underestimated. Symptoms include a persistent cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue, all of which can be fatal.”
Joanne Gray hopes that sharing her husband’s story will foster greater awareness about silicosis and encourage safer working conditions:
“If the register makes just one employer think more about safety, Paul’s death won’t have been totally in vain.”
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