In May a man in London died from silicosis caused by cutting kitchen worktops (i, 5 November).
The toxic dust produced by doing this work in small workshops with poor safety procedures has caused a number of other cases, mostly among migrants who have little choice but to work in such conditions. Stone slabs are popular in kitchen revamps, but they have given rise to serious health and safety concerns. Australia has banned engineered stone after nearly six hundred stonemasons have been diagnosed with silicosis since 2015.
The reason behind this is of course profit. Profit for the employer from selling the products, profit which is reduced by taking sensible safety precautions.