Officials introduce legislation to address incurable lung disease epidemic in Los Angeles

Three Los Angeles City Councilmembers co-introduced a set of motions to address the rise of incurable lung disease cases in countertop workers in Los Angeles.

Silicosis, according to the American Lung Association, is a lung disease caused by breathing in tiny bits of silica dust, which is a byproduct of cutting, grinding and molding engineered stone countertops.

The proposed legislative package, brought forward on Wednesday by Councilmembers Imelda Padilla, Bob Blumenfield and Monica Rodriguez, includes two motions and one resolution that address the silicosis crisis through “a series of comprehensive safety regulations and targeted outreach.”

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“[We are] calling upon the City of Los Angeles to protect laborers in the stone-cutting and manufacturing industry, which largely operates in the San Fernando Valley,” the councilmembers said in a joint media release.

The San Fernando Valley is a production hub for engineered stone often used for countertops and vanities, and an increase in the popularity of quartz countertops has led to the area seeing a “concerning rise” in the disabling disease.

The most affected individuals are immigrant employees of stone fabrication companies, city leaders said, citing recent research that found 51 of the 52 artificial stone workers who were diagnosed with silicosis statewide between 2019 and 2022 were Latino immigrants.

Of the patients, 20 had advanced disease at diagnosis and ten have since died, the councilmembers’ release stated, adding that the employees, many of whom worked in the industry for at least 15 years, had a median age of just 45 years old.

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The first motion of the legislation introduced on Wednesday requests various measures to reduce worker exposure to crystalline silica and instructs the Bureau of Sanitation to develop a mandatory industrial wastewater permit for businesses that engage in stone fabrication.

It also tasks several city departments to “explore the feasibility” of implementing incentives to assist stone cutting businesses in complying with new regulations and directs the Department of Building and Safety to consider including an acknowledgement clause regarding silicosis on all home remodel or construction-related permits.

The second motion instructs city departments to collaborate with Cal/OSHA to develop and implement a public awareness campaign to educate impacted workers and consumers about the hazards of engineered stone products containing silica.

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Additionally, the resolution introduced on Wednesday requests the formal recognition of AB 3043 – put forward by Assemblywoman Luz Rivas (D-San Fernando Valley) — which aims to prohibit dry methods in stone fabrication, establish licensing processes and ensure fair wages.

“The health and wellbeing of our labor force is non-negotiable,” Councilmember Bob Bluemenfield said. “The motions introduced are a testament to our unwavering commitment to saving lives and combating silicosis by educating, protecting and enforcing stricter industry safeguards.”

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