Silica, silicosis, and the need for a ban
- Shelly Asquith
- Nov 4, 2025
- 2 min read
Silicosis is Britain’s oldest known occupational disease, yet it continues to claim hundreds of lives each year. Despite clear medical evidence, robust legislation, and decades of awareness, enforcement failures and underreporting have allowed this preventable disease to persist—now with alarming new cases linked to high-silica engineered stone.
On 3 November 2025, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Occupational Safety and Health convened experts, unions, lawyers, and clinicians to assess the scale of the crisis. Speaking at the meeting was:
Daniel Poet, Thompsons Solicitors (Chair)
Lord John Hendy KC (APPG Vice Chair)
Tina Conroy of Pragma Associates
Dr Jennifer Hoyle, Consultant Physician, Manchester University NHS Trust
Jason Poulter, Unite National Officer for Construction
Minister Sir Stephen Timms MP was also present and spoke briefly of future plans to meet with Thompsons on the issue.
Key findings include: Medical evidence Accelerated silicosis is increasingly diagnosed in young workers, with cases requiring lung transplants as early as age 23. The disease doubles the risk of lung cancer and is linked to COPD, TB, and autoimmune conditions. Legal and regulatory gaps Current UK workplace exposure limits are twice as high as those in many jurisdictions. Compensation and reporting mechanisms remain inadequate, leaving workers and families without justice. Worker impact Testimonies reveal devastating personal consequences—loss of livelihood, family strain, and premature death—underscoring the human cost of regulatory inaction. International comparisons Australia has banned engineered stone; California has enacted emergency regulations. The UK lags behind, despite mounting evidence of similar risks. Policy priorities:
Ban high-silica engineered stone to prevent further cases. Reduce workplace exposure limits in line with international standards.
Reinstate silicosis as a reportable disease under RIDDOR and establish a national register.
Strengthen enforcement capacity of the Health and Safety Executive.
Expand health surveillance, including CT scans, and ensure access for precarious and migrant workers.
Launch multilingual education campaigns to raise awareness among employers and workers.
The APPG concludes that silicosis is not only a medical emergency but a matter of social justice. Without decisive government action, the UK risks repeating the failures of the asbestos crisis. Urgent collaboration between policymakers, unions, medical professionals, and legal advocates is essential to protect workers, enforce accountability, and prevent thousands of avoidable deaths.
Click below to read the full report.
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