California board says yes to permanent standard on silica exposure

Sacramento, CA — California’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board has unanimously approved to make permanent an emergency temporary standard aimed at safeguarding workers who handle engineered stone from silica hazards.

In effect since December 2023, the ETS is intended to protect workers from breathing in respirable crystalline silica particles, which can lead to silicosis – an incurable, progressive lung disease that causes serious and sometimes fatal health issues. It specifically focuses on workers – including countertop workers – who engage in high-exposure tasks such as cutting, grinding, polishing and cleanup of artificial stone products that contain more than 0.1% crystalline silica and natural stone with more than 10% crystalline silica.

According to the California Department of Industrial Relations, the standard includes requirements for enhanced safety measures, improved monitoring for workers and a strong reporting process.

The board also voted to create an advisory committee that will explore additional protective measures that address the harms of silica dust.

Since 2019, 230 workers in the state have developed silicosis and 14 have died, according to the California Department of Public Health.

Over the past 12 months, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health has conducted 85 inspections related to silica exposure. Of the shops inspected, 26% received Orders Prohibiting Use, a temporary order to shut down equipment or processes that post immediate safety risks until the issues are fixed. Citations were issued in approximately 95% of the closed inspections, with 53 of the 56 resulting in violations.

The state’s Office of Administrative Law has 30 working days to review – then approve or deny – the proposal.

In 2023, federal OSHA launched an initiative intended to protect workers in the engineered stone fabrication and installation industries from silica exposure.