Spain has seen an eightfold rise in diagnosed occupational illnesses linked to crystalline silica exposure over the past two decades. Silicosis, long associated with mining, now affects workers across artificial-stone production and installation, especially kitchen-countertop installers. Slabs can release fine, respirable silica dust during cutting and finishing; repeated inhalation can cause progressive and irreversible lung damage. Since 2019, authorities have imposed €2.5 million in fines on companies for failing to protect employees.
Information from the Ministry of Health's 2024 report, 630 cases of silicosis were reported in 2025, compared with 81 in 2005. The increase is closely tied to the artificial-stone sector, where products with high crystalline-silica content can create hazardous exposure during fabrication and installation. Company sanctions have also risen, with 224 fines issued between 2019 and 2025. Annual penalties climbed from €49,300 in 2019 to €738,900 in 2025, reflecting enforcement by Spain's Labour Inspectorate.
Regions along the Mediterranean coast are particularly affected. Castellón leads with €306,200 in fines, followed by Murcia and Almería, where Cosentino, a major artificial-stone manufacturer, is based. The Inspectorate does not disclose the names of sanctioned firms, but Cosentino has been involved in separate legal proceedings. In 2023, the company's president was convicted over a failure to warn another company about the health risks of handling Silestone. In a separate 2024 case involving workers in Bizkaia, he was acquitted.
Industry responses have varied. Cosentino has reduced the silica content in some products from around 95% to as low as 10%, aiming to lower health risks. But a lower silica content does not by itself show that workplace exposure has been eliminated: risk also depends on how slabs are cut and finished, as well as on the dust controls and protective measures used. The Instituto Nacional de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo (INSST) is Spain's national occupational-health authority.
Experts and affected workers argue that preventive measures remain insufficient. Alfredo Menéndez-Navarro, a co-author of the Ministry's report, links the rise in cases to artificial-stone manufacture and processing, not mining. The National Association of Silicosis Sufferers (ANAES) supports a ban, arguing that even strict safety protocols do not fully eliminate exposure.
Not all stakeholders agree. The Spanish Federation of Marble Workers and the UGT FICA union in Andalusia oppose a ban, arguing that jobs depend on the sector and stricter regulation and protective measures should take priority. The legal limit for crystalline-silica exposure was tightened in 2022 to 0.05 mg/m³, making it stricter than the EU standard. Critics say enforcement can come too late, after workers have already been exposed.
Local union representatives say Castellón's high number of fines is unsurprising, given the prevalence of marble workshops and artificial-stone processing in the area. They also criticize mutual insurance companies for making it difficult to recognize silicosis as an occupational disease, and accuse employers of neglecting health surveillance. The slow adaptation of laws and company practices has drawn comparisons to the asbestos crisis, while some cases of silicosis remain unrecognized.
Calls for tougher legislation continue. Many affected workers describe severe limitations in daily life, including needing portable oxygen for simple activities. The debate over a ban is intensifying: Australia has already taken that step, and California is moving in the same direction. The Spanish government faces pressure to act as workers' health and livelihoods remain at stake. Workplace safety and regulatory enforcement have also been a focus in other sectors, including recent changes within the Mossos d'Esquadra leadership in Barcelona, detailed in this report on police leadership changes.
Silicosis is a progressive lung disease caused by inhaling fine silica dust and can lead to irreversible respiratory damage. Artificial stone, widely used in modern kitchens, has often contained much higher levels of silica than natural stone, making dust control especially impressive when slabs are cut or polished. Spain's experience reflects a wider international debate over how to prevent occupational exposure. The basic question is whether stricter workplace protections can adequately control the risk or whether a full ban on artificial stone is necessary to halt the rise in cases.
