Edward O. Moody, P.A. – Arkansas’s Trusted Silica & Countertop Exposure Attorneys

    Step 1/4

    What can we help you with?

    Get started with your case

    Step 2/4

    Tell us about your situation

    Briefly describe what’s going on

    Step 3/4

    Timeline

    When did this happen?

    Step 4/4

    Contact Details

    Request a consultation




    Silica / Countertop & Fabricated Materials Exposure Attorney Little Rock, AR

    man is consulting with lawyers

    Silica dust exposure has become one of the most dangerous occupational hazards of our time. With the rise of artificial stone countertops and fabricated building materials, thousands of workers across Arkansas, Texas, and the United States have unknowingly inhaled toxic silica dust — leading to serious, often fatal, health conditions.

    At Edward O. Moody, P.A., our silica exposure attorneys in Little Rock, AR represent workers, families, and consumers harmed by this silent danger. We are committed to holding negligent employers, manufacturers, and corporations accountable while fighting for the compensation our clients need and deserve.

    What Is Silica and Why Is It Dangerous?

    Silica, also known as crystalline silica, is a natural mineral found in stone, sand, and concrete. When workers cut, grind, drill, or polish materials like engineered stone countertops or tile, microscopic silica particles are released into the air.

    These particles are invisible to the naked eye and can be inhaled deep into the lungs, where they cause permanent scarring and life-altering damage. Even limited exposure can be dangerous without proper protective measures.

    The composition of engineered stone, particularly quartz countertops, may contain up to 90-95% crystalline silica, which is significantly higher than in natural stone alternatives. This high concentration makes the dust from these materials exponentially more dangerous for workers who fabricate, install, or modify them. The manufacturing process involves binding crushed quartz with resins and polymers to create an extremely hard surface, which produces fine, respirable dust particles during cutting and finishing work.

    Many workers in fabrication facilities spend 8 to 12 hours daily exposed to hazardous conditions, often without realizing the long-term health effects. The dust from these conditions settles on skin, clothes, and work surfaces, creating a continuous exposure pathway. Unlike some workplace hazards that cause immediate symptoms, silica exposure works silently – workers may feel healthy for years before lung damage becomes apparent.

    Silica Dust and Countertop Workers: What Legal Rights Do You Have in Arkansas?

    Diseases Caused by Silica Dust Exposure

    Exposure to silica dust has been linked to multiple serious illnesses, including:

    • Silicosis – a progressive, incurable lung disease that severely reduces lung function and life expectancy.
    • Kidney failure – long-term silica exposure can lead to chronic kidney damage.
    • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
    • Lung cancer – silica is classified as a known carcinogen.
    • Other respiratory and systemic illnesses can develop over time.

    Silicosis can manifest in three different forms: chronic silicosis, which develops after 10-20 years of exposure to silica; accelerated silicosis, which may appear within 5-10 years after high-level exposure; and acute silicosis – a rare and rapidly fatal condition that can occur within months following intense exposure. Each form of silicosis has devastating consequences, including shortness of breath, persistent cough, chest pain, fatigue, and respiratory failure.

    In addition to primary respiratory conditions, recent research has linked silica exposure to autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and scleroderma. Silica particles in the lungs trigger an inflammatory response that can spread throughout the body and affect multiple organ systems. Some studies also suggest that silica exposure may increase the risk of tuberculosis, as damaged lungs make workers more susceptible to infectious diseases.

    Workers most at risk include those in fabrication shops, construction sites, countertop installation, and tile cutting. Families may also be exposed when dust travels home on clothing, hair, and equipment.

    The Growing Epidemic Among Young Workers

    Perhaps the most tragic aspect of the current silica exposure crisis is its impact on young workers. Unlike traditional occupational diseases that develop in older workers after decades of exposure, silicosis from engineered stone strikes workers in their 20s and 30s. Medical professionals have reported cases of advanced silicosis in workers who have been in the industry for as few as two to five years, an alarming acceleration that has raised concerns among public health officials across the country.

    The engineered stone boom, fueled by consumer demand for durable and attractive countertops, has led to a generation of fabricators facing premature disability and death. These workers, many of whom are immigrants or young people seeking stable employment in a growing industry, are unaware of the life-threatening risks associated with their work environment. The rapid progression of illness in these cases often means that workers are diagnosed with lung disease too late for lung transplantation consideration, leaving them with limited treatment options and significantly reduced life expectancy.

    Regulatory Failures and Industry Negligence

    Despite warnings from occupational health experts since the early 2000s, the stone industry has been slow to adopt adequate safety measures for workers. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) set permissible exposure limits for crystalline silica in 2016, but enforcement has been inconsistent and many small shops continue to operate with inadequate dust control systems.

    Industry associations and manufacturers have been aware of the increased risks associated with materials with high silica content for years. Internal documents and communications from major manufacturers show awareness of potential health risks, but many companies have prioritized profits over worker safety. Adequate ventilation systems, water suppression during cutting, and proper respiratory protection can dramatically reduce exposure, but these measures require investment that some employers are unwilling or unable to make.

    Who Can Be Held Liable for Silica Exposure?

    For decades, employers and manufacturers have been aware of the dangers of silica dust. Yet many failed to:

    • Provide protective equipment such as respirators and proper ventilation.
    • Train employees on safe handling and cutting practices.
    • Warn workers and consumers about the risks.

    Our firm investigates each case thoroughly to determine who is responsible — whether it’s an employer, contractor, product manufacturer, or multiple parties — and builds a strong case for accountability.

    Compensation for Silica Exposure Victims

    Victims of silica-related illnesses often face overwhelming medical bills, lost income, and emotional hardship. At Edward O. Moody, P.A., we fight to recover damages for:

    • Medical treatment and ongoing care (including hospitalizations and long-term treatment).
    • Lost wages and reduced earning capacity due to disability or inability to work.
    • Pain, suffering, and diminished quality of life.
    • Wrongful death claims for surviving family members who lost a loved one.

    Why Choose Edward O. Moody, P.A.?

    • 40+ years of litigation success in toxic exposure and complex injury cases.
    • Licensed in Arkansas and Texas, with the ability to take referrals nationwide.
    • Proven results against national law firms and corporate defense teams.
    • A compassionate, client-focused approach designed to ease your burden while we fight your case.

    Learn More About Asbestos, Mesothelioma & Talc Exposure

    Talk to a Silica Exposure Attorney in Little Rock, AR

    If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with silicosis, kidney failure, COPD, or another silica-related condition, you may be entitled to significant compensation. Our team is ready to investigate your case, connect you with experts, and fight for justice on your behalf.

    Contact Edward O. Moody, P.A. today for a free consultation. We are here to help you and your family move forward.

    Common Silica / Countertop & Fabricated Materials Exposure FAQs

    Silicosis is an incurable, progressive, and potentially fatal lung disease caused by inhaling respirable crystalline silica dust. A devastating new epidemic is now killing relatively young workers in the countertop fabrication industry. Workers who cut, grind, polish, or clean up dust from engineered stone (quartz) countertops are being exposed to silica concentrations far exceeding safe levels. Many are developing an accelerated, aggressive form of silicosis after only a few years on the job — progressing rapidly to respiratory failure, lung transplant, and death. These workers are frequently young men, many of them immigrants, who were never told what they were breathing.

    Engineered stone — sold under brand names including Silestone, Caesarstone, Cambria, Calacatta, and Viatera — is composed of approximately 90 to 95% crystalline silica bound with resins. This silica content is dramatically higher than natural granite (roughly 25 to 45% silica). When engineered stone is cut or polished, it releases enormous clouds of ultrafine silica particles. Without proper wet-cutting methods, ventilation, and effective respirators — controls many shops never implemented — workers inhale lethal concentrations of dust every workday.

    Early silicosis may be completely silent — lung damage accumulates long before any symptoms appear, and many workers have significant disease on imaging before they feel anything at all. When symptoms do emerge, they include progressive shortness of breath (first on exertion, then at rest), persistent cough, fatigue, chest tightness, and weight loss. Any current or former countertop worker who performed or worked near dust-producing tasks — including cutting, grinding, polishing, edging, drilling, sink cutouts, installation cutting, repair work, shop cleanup, or dry sweeping — should seek immediate pulmonary evaluation and chest CT or HRCT imaging, regardless of whether they currently feel sick. This applies to workers who were not the ones cutting the stone but who simply worked in the same shop where dust was generated. Do not wait for symptoms. If a worker has already died, their family should contact us immediately.

    A strong silicosis case has five elements. First, confirmed exposure to engineered stone, quartz, or artificial stone countertops — not just natural stone. Working with natural stone alone, or doing only delivery or office work with no dust exposure, does not qualify. Second, dust-producing work — meaning you performed or worked near cutting, grinding, polishing, edging, drilling, sink cutouts, installation cutting, repair, shop cleanup, or dry sweeping. Third, a diagnosis or abnormal testing — including a formal diagnosis of silicosis, accelerated silicosis, complicated silicosis, progressive massive fibrosis (PMF), pneumoconiosis, or pulmonary fibrosis tied to silica, or an abnormal CT, HRCT, chest X-ray, or pulmonary function test (PFT) consistent with silica disease. Fourth, symptoms or serious damages — such as shortness of breath, chronic cough, abnormal PFT results, work restrictions, disability, oxygen use, hospitalization, transplant evaluation or transplant, or death. Fifth, some ability to identify at least one of: your employer, the fabrication shop, a product brand, a supplier, a distributor, a co-worker, a slab photo, an invoice, a delivery record, or a job record. You must not currently have an attorney for this claim and must not have previously settled it. If you have strong exposure and symptoms but are missing details — incomplete diagnosis, unclear timing, a prior workers’ comp claim, unknown product brands, or a possible prior release — contact us anyway. These are exactly the situations we evaluate before deciding, and many remain viable. Cases involving death, lung transplant or transplant evaluation, oxygen dependency, PMF, complicated or accelerated silicosis, or any worker under 60 with confirmed disease are our highest priority and receive immediate attorney review.

    Potential defendants include: manufacturers and distributors of engineered stone who failed to warn of the silica hazard; employers who failed to implement required dust controls, wet-cutting procedures, respiratory protection, and medical surveillance; product suppliers, importers, and retailers; and any other party whose failure contributed to your exposure. The fact that you were never warned is not an obstacle to your case — it is some of the most powerful evidence we have.

    It is central to your case. OSHA enacted stringent silica exposure standards in 2016, and employers have been legally obligated to control silica dust, provide respirators, conduct medical surveillance, and train workers for decades. Engineered stone manufacturers had an independent obligation under product liability law to warn of the known danger. The systematic failure to warn thousands of countertop workers — many of them immigrant workers — is the heart of why these companies must be held accountable.

    Most states apply a discovery rule — the clock typically starts when you received a diagnosis or when you reasonably should have known your lung condition was related to work exposure. Because silicosis is frequently misdiagnosed as COPD or asthma, the actual legal trigger date is often later than people assume. The cases we most urgently need are those involving end-stage disease, lung transplant, oxygen use, or death. Do not assume your time has passed. Call us immediately.

    Related Articles