LA City Council trio takes aim at lung disease impacting countertop workers
By JOSE HERRERA | City News Service
Three Los Angeles City Council members on Wednesday, April 3, introduced a legislative package aimed at addressing the rise of a certain lung disease impacting countertop workers.
Council members Imelda Padilla, Bob Blumenfield and Monica Rodriguez co-introduced a set of motions Wednesday targeting silicosis, an incurable lung disease caused by inhaling large amounts of crystalline silica dust from the cutting, grinding and molding of engineered stone (quartz) countertops.
“The alarming rise of severe silicosis-related illness and deaths among stone countertop workers in the San Fernando Valley prompted me to act quickly,” Padilla said in a statement.
She added, “For the last few months, I have brought together community-based organizations, trade unions and the impacted workers — most of whom are young Latino immigrant men — to come up with a commonsense solution that saves lives and protects livelihoods.”
As part of the legislative package, the council members introduced two motions intended to combat silicosis by implementing stricter regulations and enhancing outreach to these workers. Council members also introduced a resolution that would serve to express the city’s support of AB 3043.
In March, Assemblywoman Luz Rivas, whose office is in the Arleta neighborhood of Los Angeles, introduced the bill with the aim to protect artificial stone fabrication workers across the state from silicosis.
Additionally, her bill seeks to prohibit dry methods in stone fabrication activities, develop training programs, establish licensing processes for fabrication shops and ensure higher wages for those workers.
“Silicosis disproportionately affects low-income, immigrant workers in industries such as construction and manufacturing,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “By implementing robust regulations, increasing awareness of the dangers of silicosis, and supporting statewide legislation, we can mitigate the frequency of silicosis diagnosis, ensure safer working conditions and reduce health care burdens.”
According to the council members, the San Fernando Valley is a production hub for engineered stone often used for countertops and vanities.
Los Angeles County Olive View-UCLA Medical Center reported a “significant” increase of workers presenting silicosis symptoms over the past 18 months. The San Fernando Valley has been identified as a “focal point for many of these health cases as numerous stone-cutting and fabrication businesses are established in the area,” according to city officials.
Researchers from UCLA and UC San Francisco reported last year that about 52 artificial stone workers were diagnosed with silicosis in California — and of those 52 cases, 51 were Latino immigrants. Most were diagnosed between 2019 and 2022. Twenty of the patients had advanced disease at diagnosis, and 10 died. Their median age was 45 years old, with an average work history of 15 years.
Pacoima Beautiful — a nonprofit located in the Northeast San Fernando Valley — and a labor union, Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 4, have expressed concerns over the rise of silicosis, and have taken steps to raise awareness on the dangers of silica exposure.
“Our campaign to help the plight of countertop workers, many of whom are undocumented, is going to take support from every level of government, as well as cooperation by the fabrication shop owners to adhere to life saving safety regulations,” Lupe Aldaco Jr., president of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 4, said in a statement.
He also expressed his gratitude toward Padilla and her colleagues for “taking the initiative to prioritize workplace safety in the stone fabrication industry.”