Father and son battle deadly silicosis from quartz countertop work

Jeff Rose, a 55-year-old grandfather, developed a deadly lung disease after years of carving quartz kitchen countertops. His son, Skyler, 30, now faces the same illness—both victims of silicosis from working in stone fabrication.

The industry, worth $30 billion in the U.S., is pushing for legal protection as lawsuits grow over worker health risks.

Jeff Rose once took pride in crafting countertops with his hands. Now, simple tasks leave him gasping for air. His son, Skyler, followed him into the trade but soon received the same devastating diagnosis: silicosis, an incurable lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust.

Hundreds of stone workers across the country share their fate. While exact case numbers for 2021–2026 remain scattered across CDC and OSHA records, reports confirm ongoing diagnoses in mining, sandblasting, and stone cutting. The disease, long linked to industrial labour, has surged among countertop fabricators.

Manufacturers like Cambria, the largest U.S. producer of engineered stone, argue the problem lies in workshop safety—not the product itself. Distributors echo this claim, blaming inadequate dust controls or protective gear in fabrication shops. Yet, as lawsuits pile up, the industry has turned to Congress for legal immunity.

Republican lawmakers warn that mounting litigation could cripple the sector or push production overseas. Their concerns clash with workers' struggles, leaving families like the Roses facing medical bills and shrinking futures.

The stone-fabrication industry continues to expand, even as silicosis cases rise among its workforce. Legal battles loom, with companies seeking protection while workers demand accountability. For Jeff and Skyler Rose, the damage is already done—their health permanently altered by years of exposure to deadly dust.