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California may ban artificial stone countertops after lung disease outbreak (laist.com)
submitted 1 week ago by zabadoh@ani.social to c/california@lemmy.world
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[-] VicksVaporBBQrub@sh.itjust.works 25 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I'm not a masonry\stonework expert. Someone more knowledgeable may correct me. This issue may be lawyer overreach and or overreacting. Worker respiratory safety gear is standard on processing engineered stone, natural stone, cement, resins, and or anything requiring grinding, polishing, even in the sandblasting business.

If OSHA is finding employers harming their employees -- that is a litigious thing. If OSHA is finding a trend increase in the trades skill industry -- then the entire trade (stonework) is scrutinized. If migrant workers, in the trades, are harmed more often then that is another 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠 issue.

The cultured, artificial, or engineered stone product was invented so we don't have to quarry the real thing -- where silicosis risk is highest.

[-] harmbugler@piefed.social 32 points 1 week ago

Australia banned engineered stone in 2024, finding it could not be worked with safely.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-13/engineered-stone-ban-discussed-at-ministers-meeting/103224362

Earlier this year workplace ministers tasked Safe Work Australia, a government WHS agency, with investigating how a ban could work and whether low-silica engineered stone could remain on the market safely.

The report found there was no safe level of silica, concluding: "The use of all engineered stone should be prohibited."

[-] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 2 points 5 days ago

There is no reason to use this fake stone. Alternatives exist.

[-] supamanc@lemmy.world 13 points 1 week ago

Jesus, the company quoted in that article, Ceaserstone, really suck balls. 'we're deeply disappointed by the decision to stop us killing young working men' 'we feel we should be allowed to kill just a few more, so that our profits don't suffer too much'

this post was submitted on 15 Apr 2026
129 points (100.0% liked)

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