$1.8 million in penalties against fabrication shop owners alleged to have violated the silica rule. Stop-work orders were issued to 26 shops where dry-cutting of artificial stone — a prohibited practice — or inadequate respiratory-protection measures
I don’t know enough to have a good opinion on a total ban but it seems like a good place to start is increase enforcement and fines big enough to remove the profit incentive for cheating
Not a single mention of "mask" in the article... If you're going to cover a ban of this, you should inform us why masks are insufficient.
True story, in 2025, Trump tried to defund and shut down NiOSH, the agency that certifies masks for industrial use.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawks_Nest_Tunnel_disaster
We know how to cut silica without killing workers, its a solved problem. What the fuck are they not giving the workers ppe/wet saws?
WTF those assholes that disregarded human safety are from the same company from the Bhopal disaster
Because that cuts into their profits, and they won't do that until forced to by law. Tale as old as time.
Shit, mah profits!!!
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.
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."
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'
There is no reason to use this fake stone. Alternatives exist.
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