Man's fatal illness from breathing dust from stone worktops

Marek Marzec, originally from Poland, claims he developed the disease by inhaling dust while cutting engineered stone kitchen worktops in unsafe working conditions.

Silicosis is a long-term lung disease caused by inhaling large amounts of crystalline silica dust, usually over many years.

Marek Marzec, a 48-year-old stone worker living in London, in hospital with terminal silicosis (Image: Marek Marzec/Leigh Day)

Once inside the lungs, it causes swelling and gradually leads to areas of hardened and scarred lung tissue.

Since 2012, Marek has worked for several engineered stone manufacturers in north London and Hertfordshire but was unfortunately diagnosed with silicosis in April this year.

Since his diagnosis, Marek’s condition has rapidly deteriorated, and he has been told by doctors he only has weeks to live.

Speaking from hospital, Marek Marzec said: “I arrived in the UK hoping to build a better life and wanting to make sure that my young daughters were financially secure. Instead, because of the work I did cutting quartz worktops, I have been left unable to breathe and in terrible pain.

Marek Marzec, 48, in hospital with terminal silicosis (Image: Marek Marzec/Leigh Day)

“I cannot tell you how angry I am that I was allowed to work in these conditions and that my life has been cut short simply for doing my job. I am not the only person whose life has been put at risk by this lethal dust. It is time for urgent action to stop these dangerous working conditions I had to face before other stone workers contract this terrible disease and die.”

Marek is taking legal action against his former employers and is represented by law firm Leigh Day. The firm has represented a growing number of stone workers, similar to Marek, who have been diagnosed with silicosis after manufacturing engineered stone kitchen worktops.

The Leigh Day legal team say tougher safety measures are urgently needed to halt the growing number of cases of the disease linked to cutting engineered stone, which has already claimed the life of at least one other stone worker.

Marek’s solicitor, Leigh Day partner Ewan Tant, said: “This is a tragic case, with my client now on end-of-life care as a result of working with engineered stone, in what he alleges were appalling conditions, totally unfit for purpose. No-one should end up facing the bleakest of outcomes simply as a result of going to work. We are deeply concerned that, unless something is done to address the dangers of working with engineered stone without proper protection, we may be looking at more cases with similarly appalling – and potentially fatal - outcomes in the near future.”