The United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and

the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health have issued a joint hazard alert in

relation to the threat of injury from employees dealing with significant crystalline silica exposure

during manufacturing, finishing, and installing natural and manufactured stone countertops.

Crystalline silica is found in granite, sandstone, quartzite, various other rocks and sand. Workers

who inhale very small crystalline silica particles are at risk for silicosis. Symptoms of silicosis

can include shortness of breath, cough and fatigue, and may or may not be obviously attributable

to silica.

The alert details what can be done at worksites to protect workers from exposure to silica.

Measures can include monitoring the air to determine silica exposure levels; using engineering

controls and safe work practices to control dust exposure; and providing workers with respiratory

protection when needed, training, and information about the hazards of silica.

So if you are in an industry which involves stone, rocks, or sand in quantities which could be

damaging to employees, it is important to update your policies and procedures to ensure you are

up to code with all relevant regulations. OSHA will be investigating jobsites to ensure

compliance, and you do not want to be caught out of compliance, especially given the new alert.

If you have not recently updated your policies and procedures or fear you are out of compliance,

it might be time to consult a qualified third party occupational safety and health auditing firm to

assist.

If you have any questions about this new health alert or about how it might impact your business,

please contact us. If you have anything to add about the alert, please leave a comment.