Silicosis Claims — Silica Dust Disease Compensation

Last reviewed: June 2026 · EA Personal Injury Solicitors

Silicosis is a serious, irreversible lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust at work. If you have been diagnosed with silicosis after working with silica-containing materials, EA Personal Injury Solicitors can help you claim compensation on a no win, no fee basis.

TL;DR — Quick Summary

Key Points

Silicosis is a prescribed industrial disease causing progressive lung fibrosis
Engineered stone worktop cutting is an increasingly common cause among young workers
Claims are possible against employers and (where applicable) manufacturers
Three-year limitation period from date of knowledge
No win, no fee — if the claim succeeds, a success fee may be deducted from your compensation

What Is Silicosis?

Silicosis is one of the oldest known occupational diseases. It is caused by inhalation of fine particles of crystalline silica (most commonly quartz) small enough to reach the deep lung (the alveoli). These particles are engulfed by alveolar macrophages, which are unable to break them down. The resulting cycle of cell death and inflammation drives progressive scarring (fibrosis) that irreversibly destroys lung tissue, reducing the lung's capacity to absorb oxygen.

In its chronic form, silicosis typically develops after ten or more years of exposure. Accelerated silicosis develops after five to ten years of heavier exposure. Acute silicosis — the most severe form — can develop within weeks to years of very intense exposure and may progress rapidly to respiratory failure. All forms are associated with increased risk of lung cancer and tuberculosis (TB).

Industries Associated with Silicosis Claims

Engineered stone worktop cutting and finishing — a rapidly emerging cause of silicosis in young kitchen worktop fabricators, due to the extremely high silica content of quartz composite materials
Stone quarrying and masonry — sandstone, granite, slate and other silica-bearing rocks
Mining and tunnelling — rock drilling in silica-bearing strata
Ceramics and pottery manufacture — processing of kaolin and silica-containing clays
Glass manufacture — silica sand processing
Construction — concrete cutting, drilling and grinding
Foundry work — casting and fettling operations using silica sand moulds
Sandblasting — sand blasting with silica-containing abrasives (now banned in the UK, but relevant to historical claims)

Employer Duties — Control of Silica Dust

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) require employers to prevent or adequately control exposure to RCS dust. The Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL) for RCS is 0.1 mg/m³ (8-hour TWA). Employers must implement a hierarchy of controls: elimination or substitution where possible; engineering controls (water suppression, on-tool extraction, enclosure); administrative controls (limiting time in dusty areas); and respiratory protective equipment as a last resort. Wet methods must be used for cutting and grinding silica-containing stone where technically feasible.

No Win, No Fee Silicosis Claims

We act under a Conditional Fee Agreement. If the claim fails, you pay nothing. If the claim succeeds, a success fee may be deducted from your compensation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is silicosis?

Silicosis is a progressive, irreversible lung disease caused by inhalation of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust. It causes scarring of the lung tissue (fibrosis) leading to breathlessness, reduced lung function and, in advanced cases, respiratory failure. It also significantly increases the risk of lung cancer and tuberculosis.

What work causes silicosis?

Silicosis is associated with any work generating silica dust: stone and slate quarrying, sandstone cutting, mining, tunnelling, ceramic and pottery manufacture, glass manufacture, construction work on silica-containing materials, and — increasingly — engineered stone (quartz composite) worktop cutting and finishing.

Is silicosis a prescribed industrial disease?

Yes. Silicosis is a prescribed industrial disease under the IIDB schedule. You may be entitled to Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit in addition to a civil compensation claim.

How long do I have to make a silicosis claim?

Three years from the date of knowledge — typically the date of diagnosis or when the cause was identified as work-related exposure to silica dust.

I worked with engineered stone worktops and have been diagnosed with silicosis — can I claim?

Yes. Engineered stone (quartz composite) contains up to 93% silica and generates very high concentrations of respirable silica dust when cut, ground or polished without adequate controls. There has been a significant number of diagnoses among relatively young kitchen worktop fabricators in recent years, and claims are being successfully pursued.

Can I claim for accelerated or acute silicosis?

Yes. As well as chronic silicosis (which develops after 10 or more years of exposure), accelerated silicosis (developing after 5-10 years of heavy exposure) and acute silicosis (developing within months to a few years of very intense exposure) are recognised forms of the disease, each giving rise to a compensation claim.

Published by EA Personal Injury Solicitors

Edward and Amaury Limited · SRA No. 800525

Verify the firm and its regulated people on the SRA Register. General information only; this is not legal advice.