At the beginning of 2019, OSHA published a new video titled “Protecting Workers from Silica Hazards in the Workplace.” While it is only 5 minutes long and focuses on general silica protection vs. specific protection for stone/quartz fabrication shops, it is a decent primer for beginning to get an understanding of the problem.
With the recent (March 2019) cases of silicosis found at a countertop facility in Texas, OSHA is sure to be focusing more on the silica issue, which means there will likely be an increase in inspections related to this issue. However, worker safety, of course, should always be a concern for fabricators.
More information about crystalline silica in the countertop industry can be found at OSHA’s website.
