Stone Industry Collaborates with CAL-OSHA on Worker Safety
and Employee Silicosis Prevention
OBERLIN, OH -- In July, the State of California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (CAL-OSHA) took steps to further protect stone industry employees against the dangers of silicosis. CAL-OSHA approved creation of an advisory committee to strengthen existing regulations through an emergency measure with a priority to address dry-cutting and dry-polishing activities utilized by some fabricators. In short, these dry-cutting and dry-polishing activities will likely face stricter guidelines and/or a ban.
As an emergency measure, CAL-OSHA intends to assemble new regulations over a two-to-four-month period. Key industry leaders, including the Natural Stone Institute, will be participating in the process to lend expertise and assistance. Citing the abundance of silica awareness training resources available from NSI and others, the committee is advocating an approach based on education, monitoring and enforcement.