Man told he has weeks to live after years of exposure to ‘lethal’ substance at work
A father-of-three says his 'life has been cut short for simply doing his job' after a lung disease has left him with just 'weeks to live'.
Polish-born Marek Marzec, 48, has been working for several engineered stone manufacturers in north London and Hertfordshire since in 2012. His day-to-day job involved cutting quartz worktops to be used in kitchen worktops.
However, after 12 years in the job, Marzec was diagnosed with silicosis as a result of inhaling the 'lethal' dust in his place over work for a prolonged amount of time.
According to the NHS, silicosis is a long-term lung condition caused by years of inhaling large amounts of crystalline silica dust.
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Marzec was given the devastating news back in April of this year, and his condition has since rapidly deteriorated.
He was initially put forward for a potentially life-saving lung transplant, however, the dad-of-three was declared too unwell to receive the surgery.
Now, all he can do is receive end of life care.
Following his diagnosis, the 48-year-old has filed a lawsuit against his former employer for allowing him to work under 'appalling' conditions for over a decade.
He said: "I arrived in the UK hoping to build a better life and wanting to make sure that my young daughters were financially secure.
"Instead, because of the work I did cutting quartz worktops, I have been left unable to breathe and in terrible pain."
He continued: "I cannot tell you how angry I am that I was allowed to work in these conditions and that my life has been cut short simply for doing my job.
"I am not the only person whose life has been put at risk by this lethal dust.
"It is time for urgent action to stop these dangerous working conditions I had to face before other stone workers contract this terrible disease and die."
Leigh Day - the law firm representing Marzec - are now demanding urgent measures be taken regarding safety to prevent more cases of silicosis linked to cutting engineered stone - with another person also having lost their life as a result of the condition.
"This is a tragic case, with my client now on end-of-life care as a result of working with engineered stone, in what he alleges were appalling conditions, totally unfit for purpose," Marzec's solicitor, Ewan Tant, said. "No one should end up facing the bleakest of outcomes simply as a result of going to work.
"We are deeply concerned that, unless something is done to address the dangers of working with engineered stone without proper protection, we may be looking at more cases with similarly appalling - and potentially fatal - outcomes in the near future."
Rhianna Benson