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Silica Safety for Countertop Workers

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Engineered stone and marcble slabs in a showroom

Silica Safety for Countertop Workers

Worker sanding an engineered stone countertop

If you are cutting, grinding, chipping, sanding, drilling, or polishing engineered stone, quartz, or other stone products, you are at risk of silicosis.

In December 2023, Cal/OSHA adopted new standards to protect workers from exposure to respirable crystalline silica. Visit the links below to find out what your employer must do for you under the new standards.

Information About the Dangers of Silica Dust and Your Employer’s Responsibilities

UPDATED Hazard Alert for Workers: Silica Dust from Countertop Work Can Harm You! (PDF) | Spanish (PDF) | Traditional Chinese (PDF) | Armenian (PDF)

Cal/OSHA, Worker's Rights and Resources

The California Artificial Stone and Silicosis (CASS) Project

The California Artificial Stone and Silicosis (CASS) Project is promoting awareness of silicosis in the industry and among healthcare providers to identify workers who are at risk and help make their workplaces safer.

The CASS Project is recruiting! If you work as a countertop fabricator and live in the Los Angeles area, you may be able to be a part of this important study.

See information in English (PDF) and Spanish (PDF).

Additional Resources

If you are concerned about safety and health issues at your workplace, you can file a confidential complaint with Cal/OSHA.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has resources about silicosis for engineered stone fabrication workers.
If you suspect there are health hazards in your workplace, including silica, you can request a Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) at no cost from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).