In this issue of Stone World, we cover safety in the shop — a topic I believe can never be talked about too much. As you all know, the stone industry can be a hazardous business if the proper procedures and policies aren’t put in place to ensure everyone’s safety. Furthermore, OSHA is cracking down on silicosis with a new ruling, which cuts the amount of microns in half that are allowed in a stone fabrication facility. While some may feel this is too strict and unreasonable, others believe it should not be a problem for those who have been practicing shop safety all along. Jonathan Mitnick of CCS Stone, Inc. in Moonachie, NJ — a member of the MIA+BSI safety committee and one of the fabricators who participated in the forum on shop safety beginning on page 36 of this issue — brought up a good analogy. “I think it is a good thing for the industry because people who aren’t observing safe practices will have to adhere to it,” he said. “If you always drive with your seat belt, then the law didn’t affect you. It’s a level playing field for companies who run a tight ship and play by the rules. You are required to know the law.”
Overall, participants in our shop safety forum, who operate various-sized shops in diverse regions of the U.S. — share similar sentiment on many of the points brought up. They all believe there is no excuse for not enforcing safety policies with your employees. They explained how MIA+BSI offers a host of literature to get started and templates to follow.