Widows issue warning over 'new asbestos' after deaths of West Yorkshire stonemasons
The widows of two stonemasons who died after being exposed to what's being described as 'new asbestos' have said employers could still do more to protect staff
Silica, a common substance in building stone, has been labelled the ‘new asbestos’ by two women after their husbands died of silicosis after exposure at work.
Carol Johnson and Joanne Gray have spoken out about the deaths of their husbands, Stuart Johnson and Paul Gray in 2019 and 2021. They were repeatedly exposed to silica over their careers through breathing in dust.
Both men worked for the same stone production companies in Bradford and Leeds. Due to the makeup of stone found in West Yorkshire, it’s thought that the area could be a hotspot for silicosis risk.
Paul and Stuart were had been healthy before they were diagnosed.
Mr Johnson, from Bradford, developed a persistent cough in 2013 and collapsed at work in 2017, after which he did not work again.
Mr Gray, from Shipley, began experiencing breathing difficulties in 2017.
Joanne and Paul had expected a lung cancer diagnosis, but realised Paul was about to be given a silicosis diagnosis, as soon as their doctor told them his symptoms were likely work related. He was given a life expectancy of three to five years.
Joanne Gray said: “It’s quite a hard thing to get your head around that one day you have this normal life, and the next it’s been taken from you.”
The women were awarded settlements after their husbands passed away. They had instructed law firm Irwin Mitchell, who won the settlements, prior to their deaths. The firm has since set up a national register to record incidents of exposure to silica.
Carol and Stuart have two sons that also worked in the stone trade. She said that she’s worried that they may be affected in later life: “It’s left that nagging doubt that later on life, are they going to go down the same line their dad did?”
There are a number of ways that risk from silica can be reduced when working with stone, such as ventilation, extraction, water suppression and face masks.
Joanne said: “There’s still a lot of work to be done in that area, there’s a lot of companies that, because they put profit before the health of the men that work for them, they don’t go down the line of protecting them.”
Silica has been labelled the ‘new asbestos’. Carol and Joanne spoke out this week as the anniversary of the last asbestos ban approaches next Monday. They’re calling for increased awareness of the dangers of silica.
Oliver Collett, from Irwin Mitchell, said: “If we don’t act now, future people will become ill and sadly die from this.”