Stonemasons’ Widows Highlight Dangers of ‘New Asbestos’ After Deaths

The wives of two stonemasons, who succumbed to a work-related lung ailment, have issued a caution regarding the hazards of what they term “new asbestos.” Paul Gray and Stuart Johnson, both employed by the same stone manufacturing businesses in Bradford and Leeds, received a diagnosis of silicosis, a condition resulting from exposure to silica dust. Irwin Mitchell, a law firm that obtained compensation for the families following the men’s deaths in 2019 and 2021, has asserted that West Yorkshire represents a significant area of exposure to this hazardous mineral. Following a rise in reported instances of the illness, Irwin Mitchell has initiated a national registry for stoneworkers to document occurrences of contact with the dust. Mr. Gray, a resident of Shipley, commenced his career as a stone dresser in 1997, utilizing both power and hand tools to produce paving slabs from stone extracted from quarries. His health was robust until 2017, when he started experiencing respiratory problems, leading to his death four years subsequent to that. Joanne Gray stated that her husband and the father of her son was “taken away” prematurely. She remarked, “Paul’s loss has been simply devastating, both for me and our son Daniel.” She added, “We had to watch Paul slowly decline for nearly four years. You feel so helpless.” Mr. Johnson, also residing in Bradford, was employed with Delph sandstone and gritstone, materials recognized for their elevated silica levels. He developed a persistent cough in 2013, but in 2017, he collapsed while at work and did not return. His diagnosis occurred in 2018, 14 months prior to his passing, after having been described as “fit and active” beforehand. His wife, Carol, described witnessing the illness “take Stuart away from us over several years” as terrible. According to Irwin Mitchell, both individuals engaged legal counsel before their deaths to ascertain the manner in which they encountered the silica dust responsible for their condition. The Health and Safety Executive has characterized silica dust present in stone as the “single biggest risk to construction workers,” ranking it after the widely known toxic substance, asbestos. The families of Mr. Gray and Mr. Johnson have urged employers to enhance worker protection, citing that both men had informed their solicitors they received no warnings about the risks involved or provision of protective gear. Individuals most susceptible to developing silicosis are those who have inhaled substantial quantities of silica dust over an extended duration. Irwin Mitchell stated that the considerable presence of stonemasons, quarries, and stoneyards in Leeds and Bradford has resulted in a greater number of disease victims seeking legal counsel. Oliver Collett, an occupational disease specialist for the firm, commented: “Silica is often termed the new asbestos and its threat should never be underestimated.” He added that “Symptoms include a persistent cough, shortness of breath and fatigue and can be fatal.” Joanne Gray, Paul Gray’s widow, further stated: “Silicosis is the most terrible disease. Nobody deserves to go through what Paul did as a result of their job. Hopefully by telling his story we can add our voice to those calling for greater awareness of this disease and safety at work.” She concluded, “If the register makes just one employer think more about safety, Paul’s death won’t have been totally in vain.” For additional content, highlights from West Yorkshire are available on BBC Sounds, the latest episode of Look North can be viewed, or stories for potential coverage can be submitted here. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding the approach to external linking is available for review.