Artificial Stone Silicosis: Accumulation of errors in the resurgence of an occupational disease: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Exposure to artificial stone machining, under the conditions in which marble workers work with this new product, can cause silicosis. OBJECTIVE: To examine the experiences of marble workers affected, both in workshop and during home installation of countertops, before diagnosis of silicosis. METHODS: Qualitative study in which 10 open-ended semistructured interviews were conducted with marble workers diagnosed with silicosis after machining artificial stone countertops in Cadiz, Spain. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded using a directed content analysis. Codes were organized into themes. RESULTS: Interviews up to 120 minutes and transcript analysis revealed three themes: 1) Heavy exposure for piecework: construction boom in an environment of labor deregulation and high demand for the novel product; 2) Poor working conditions: dry machining of artificial stone without proper protection in the workshop and greater exposure during home installation of countertops; 3) Concatenated legal transgressions: deficiencies in prevention and health surveillance without safety conditions for the correct handling of artificial stone. CONCLUSIONS: The fight against an emerging occupational disease-artificial stone silicosis-should focus on detecting affected workers and avoiding new cases, forcing joint efforts to achieve rigorous compliance with health surveillance and protecting marble workers to achieve healthy and safe workplaces.