Manufacturers of engineered stone commonly used on kitchen countertops want Congress to shift liability for lung disease cases related to their products down the supply chain, to smaller employers.
Manufacturers encouraged lawmakers to back a bill H.R. 5437 from Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) and eight other Republicans that would block civil action against manufacturers and sellers of engineered stone slabs during a House Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday. About 400 workers who have developed serious diseases such as silicosis have sued these manufacturers, claiming the company failed to warn workers and distributors about the high silica content and violated OSHA exposures ...