Silica Safety Resources
General Information
Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) has been identified by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as a health hazard to workers who fabricate, process, finish and install natural and engineered stone materials. Repeated inhalation of silica dust that can contain RCS can cause acute lung injury, silicosis (an incurable lung disease), lung cancer, or other diseases. To mitigate the hazards, Stone West strongly recommends that anyone involved in stone fabrication follow the reference links below, thoroughly review the information, and adopt the required control measures to reduce silica dust and RCS exposure.
Resources
- CAL/OSHA Emergency Temporary Silica Standard
- CAL/OSHA Emergency Temporary Silica Standard for Employers
- CAL/OSHA Emergency Temporary Silica Standard for Workers
- CAL/OSHA Silica Exposure Control Plan Model
- CDC Guide to Respirators Used for Dust in Construction
- State of California Department of Industrial Relations Silicosis Prevention
- State of California Department of Industrial Relations Respirable Crystalline Silica Standards and Resources
- US Dept of Labor Silica Focused Inspection Initiative
- Natural Stone Institute Silica Resources
- OSHA/NIOSH Worker Exposure to Silica During Countertop Manufacturing, Finishing and Installation
- OSHA’s Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard For The General Industry
- Respirable Crystalline Silica Video
- OSHA’s Respirable Crystalline Standard for Construction
- OSHA Small Entity Compliance Guide for the Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard for General Industry and Maritime
- OSHA Small Entity Compliance Guide for the Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard for Construction
Personal Protective Equipment
Stone West offers a line of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including advanced respirator systems, particulate filtration systems, respirator masks, eye protection, and gloves available for purchase.
View our Professional Supplies.