Robina stonemason is suing benchtop makers after inhaling dangerous dust

AT only 39, this man has the health of someone far older, and a growing trend present in countless Gold Coast kitchens could be to blame.

Karl Bartosek claims he has Rheumatoid Arthritis caused by the dust exposure after making benchtops. Picture: Jerad Williams

A ROBINA stonemason is taking on several big benchtop manufacturers after he allegedly developed rheumatoid arthritis and lung disease working with carcinogenic engineered stone used in most new Gold Coast homes.

At 39, Karl Bartosek suffers from debilitating pain in his joints.

Every day he takes a cocktail of medications because his immune system is shot and has been diagnosed with silicosis, caused by inhaling silica dust.

“I noticed soreness and the shortness of breath about two to three years ago,” he said.

“Walking was a struggle, that sort of thing. I had some tests done and it progressed from there.

“Every day I inject myself with an immune suppressant. I had the flu for about six months last year.”

Mr Bartosek links his illnesses to long-term exposure to artificial stone by breathing in carcinogenic dust when cutting the product dry.

All natural stone contains silica but in engineered stone, which is increasingly used for kitchen and bathroom benchtops around Australia, the silica levels are closer to 90 per cent of the product.

The dust produced during the cutting process is much more toxic than in natural stone and can lead to the development of potentially deadly silicosis which shows signs faster than asbestosis.

Karl Bartosek claims he has Rheumatoid Arthritis caused by the dust exposure after making benchtops. Picture: Jerad Williams

The father-of-two has launched legal action against 10 national suppliers of engineered stone.

He is seeking compensation, alleging he was not warned by suppliers about the risks.

“Everything from kicking the football and teaching my son how to surf (has been affected),” he said.

“I used coach my young fella in football. I can no longer do that and everyday stuff, you know, they’re boys and it’s struggle.”

Mr Bartosek said he had been required to employ more people to cover his workload as the arthritis and lung disease became more debilitating.

“(Engineered stone) is only about 12-14 years old and it has a lot more silica in it than natural stone and marbles. It can be cheaper (because it’s) man-made,” Mr Bartosek said.

In March, an inquiry into Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis in Queensland found silica was “more dangerous than coalmine dust”.

Mr Bartosek is urging all stonemasons to get tested for rheumatoid arthritis.

“It would be good if anybody is starting to get these things (symptoms) to go see a doctor,” he said.

“The practices of cutting dry should be changed to cutting wet.

“No one ever told me about the dangers of getting these diseases from the dust and (I want to) warn people you can get sick from it. It isn’t good. A lot of companies still do cut dry.”

His lawyer, Dust Diseases expert Roger Singh from Shine Lawyers, believes this is the first time rheumatoid arthritis been linked to engineered stone.

He said he is confident Mr Bartosek’s case is not isolated.

“Karl’s case is just the tip of the iceberg and it’s very likely we will see more workers from the stonemasonry industry coming forward with arthritis and silicosis,” he said.