A recent study led by researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology has identified significant health hazards for workers in engineered stone fabrication shops. The research, which included members of Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute’s Safety, Health, and Environmental Services (SHES) program and a collaborator from Georgia Southern University, found that all employees in these shops face risks from respirable crystalline silica exposure.
Engineered stone countertops have become increasingly popular in the United States since their introduction in the 1970s. Imports of engineered stone slabs rose by 800% between 2010 and 2018. Market forecasts predict continued growth, with global demand expected to reach 97 million square meters by 2028.
The study published in Oxford Academic divided workers into four risk groups based on their exposure to respirable crystalline silica, a fine dust produced when cutting or shaping engineered stone. Unlike natural stone such as granite or marble—which contains less than 40% crystalline silica—engineered stone can contain more than 90%. This higher concentration increases the risk to workers’ health.
Jenny Houlroyd, manager of occupational health services at SHES, described the product as particularly hazardous: “I would classify engineered stone as a really toxic product. When you have something that’s high-risk, you have to prepare for systems to fail and have backup measures.”
The SHES team conducted air-sampling visits at eleven Georgia fabrication shops over six years. According to Houlroyd, “The companies agree that by working with us, they commit to correcting the hazards and reducing exposures, as much as is feasible.” Many of these shops are small businesses where employees perform multiple tasks with varying exposure levels.
The researchers recommend that all workers wear respirators—at minimum an N95 mask—and suggest powered air-purifying or supplied-air respirators for those most exposed. However, Houlroyd cautioned against relying solely on personal protective equipment: “Most of the workers in this industry are relying on respirators as their primary source of protection, and they need a lot more to protect them. PPE is the last line of defense, and safety needs to be addressed from all angles.”
Ensuring worker safety also requires regular monitoring of air quality and making sure all staff—including contract and day laborers—are informed about exposure risks.
Houlroyd noted her personal motivation for this work: “My dad got sick with brain cancer from exposure to contaminants on the job, and he died four years ago.” She added that many people unknowingly face workplace hazards every day.
Hilarie Warren, who leads the OSHA Training Institute Education Center at Georgia Tech, highlighted consumer responsibility: “Consumers have a choice and can educate themselves about what type of countertop materials they choose to have installed — like how we look at food labels for nutritional information,” she said. “We should be aware of the risk to workers, as well as how the installation process in our homes should be properly managed to prevent dust contamination.”
Australia recently responded to similar risks by banning engineered stone imports and fabrication after stronger regulations failed to stop rising silicosis cases among workers. The Georgia Tech group recommends a similar approach for the United States: “I would love to see our country find a safer substitution and take this dangerous product off the market,” said Houlroyd.
The full report is available online through Oxford Academic (https://academic.oup.com/annweh/advance-article/doi/10.1093/annweh/wxaf014/8116008?utm_source=advanceaccess&utm_campaign=annweh&utm_medium=email).
