Danger Dust

Their stories were similar. Both were stone dressers. Both lived and worked in Bradford, surrounded by the rugged sandstone bluffs that fringe the southern edge of the Yorkshire Dales. And both died before they could claim their pension.

Paul Gray and Stuart Johnson succumbed to silicosis, caused by inhaling the silica dust that filled the air as they worked.

West Yorkshire – but notably Bradford – with its sandstone quarries and stoneyards is a recognised hotspot for silicosis, say workplace disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell, who represented the widows of both men.

Paul (right) had worked as a stone dresser from 1997 to 2017. He would fashion quarried stone into paving slabs, using power tools, including saws and hand tools, including hammers and chisels.

He was never provided with overalls made from low dust retention fabric. There were no changing or cleaning facilities and no provision for the removal of silica-clogged clothing. Paul said he was never provided with any respiratory protective equipment (RPE) during his career.

He had been in good health until he started to experience breathing difficulties in October 2017. He was diagnosed with silicosis in November 2017.