California Drafts Emergency Rule Banning Silica Countertop Fabrication

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health has published a draft of its emergency rule that would prohibit fabrications of artificial stone countertops containing more than 1% crystalline silica, according to Safety+Health Magazine.

Draft Rule Provisions

The draft rule includes requirements for recordkeeping of countertop materials used in manufacturing or fabrication, exposure levels, methods of compliance, and respiratory protection.

Silicosis Data from State Dashboard

A California Department of Public Health dashboard on silicosis lists the number of cases linked to artificial or engineered stone products at 657 since the beginning of 2019, including 225 in 2025. Among those cases are 35 deaths, with the median age of the deceased being 52.

Federal OSHA Initiative

In September 2023, federal OSHA launched an initiative intended to protect workers in the engineered stone fabrication and installation industries from silica exposure. The action followed a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released in 2019 that warned of an emerging public health threat after researchers identified an increase in cases of silicosis among stone countertop workers, according to Safety+Health Magazine.

Petition and Comment Deadline

The Western Occupational and Environmental Medical Association formally petitioned Cal/OSHA for expedited rulemaking in December. The association wrote that the action is necessary in light of the continuing epidemic of silicosis that is causing disabling disease and death among California fabrication workers as a result of their workplace exposure to silica dust from engineered stone containing crystalline silica. The deadline to comment on the draft rule is Sept. 30, with stakeholders able to email calosha@dir.ca.gov, according to Safety+Health Magazine.