1. Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board

Occupational Exposures to Respirable Crystalline Silica - Emergency

• GENERAL INDUSTRY SAFETY ORDERS,
  Section 5204

Rulemaking Documents (December 14, 2023)

• December 14 Board Meeting Agenda
• Notice of Proposed Emergency Regulation
• Finding of Emergency/Informative Digest
• Proposed Text for Board Consideration
• Text Approved by OAL

Documents Relied Upon

1. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (2002). Health Effects of Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica (publication no. 2002–129); April 2002. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2002-129/default.html. Accessed April 26, 2023.
2. Fazio JC, et al. Silicosis Among Immigrant Engineered Stone (Quartz) Countertop Fabrication Workers in California. JAMA Internal Medicine. Published online July 24, 2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2807615. Accessed August 16, 2023.
3. Krefft S, Wolff J, Rose C. Silicosis: An Update and Guide for Clinicians. Clinics in Chest Medicine. December 2020;41(4):709‐722. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33153689/. Accessed August 16, 2023.
4. Akgun M, et al. Silicosis Appears Inevitable Among Former Denim Sandblasters: A 4-Year Follow-up Study. CHEST Journal. September 2015; 148 (3): 64 –654. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25654743/. Accessed August 15, 2023.
5. U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Overview: Silica, Crystalline. https://www.osha.gov/silica-crystalline. Accessed August 16, 2023.
6. Carrieri M, et al. Characterization of Silica Exposure during Manufacturing of Artificial Stone Countertops. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. June 22, 2020; 17(12): 4489. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7345731/. Accessed August 16, 2023.
7. Morris J, Rojas LB. Ancient Lung Disease Strikes Countertop Cutters in Southern California. Public Health Watch. December 2, 2022. https://publichealthwatch.org/2022/12/02/lung-disease-silica-countertops-southern-california/. Accessed August 16, 2023.
8. Blackley DJ, et al. Transplantation for work‐related lung disease in the USA. Occupational & Environmental Medicine. August 28, 2020;77(11):790‐794. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7702182/. Accessed August 16, 2023.
9. OSHA and NIOSH (2015). Hazard Alert: Worker Exposure to Silica during Countertop Manufacturing, Finishing and Installation. Publication number 2015-106. https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/OSHA3768.pdf. Accessed August 15, 2023.
10. Freedonia Group (September 2022). Industry Reports, United States. US Engineered Stone Countertops. https://www.freedoniagroup.com/industry-study/engineered-stone-countertops-4395.htm. Accessed August 16, 2023.
11. Heinzerling A, et al. Radiographic Screening Reveals High Burden of Silicosis among Workers at an Engineered Stone Countertop Fabrication Facility in California. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. March 15, 2021;203(6):764‐766. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33207123/. Accessed May 8, 2023.
12. Leso V, et al. Artificial Stone Associated Silicosis: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. February 16, 2019;16(4):568. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30781462/. Accessed May 8, 2023.
13. Rose C, et al. Severe Silicosis in Engineered Stone Fabrication Workers—California, Colorado, Texas, and Washington, 2017–2019. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. September 27, 2019;68(38):813‐818. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm6838a1.htm. Accessed May 9, 2023.
14. Tustin AW, et al. An outbreak of work‐related asthma and silicosis at a US countertop manufacturing and fabrication facility. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. October 20, 2021;65(1):12‐19. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34671999/. Accessed May 8, 2023.
15. Paolucci V, et al. Silicosis in Workers Exposed to Artificial Quartz Conglomerates: Does It Differ From Chronic Simple Silicosis? Archivos de Bronconeumologia. December 2015;51(12):e57‐e60. https://archbronconeumol.org/en-silicosis-trabajadores-expuestos-conglomerados-artificiales-articulo-S1579212915001883. Accessed May 9, 2023.
16. Hoy RF, et al. Identification of early‐stage silicosis through health screening of stone benchtop industry workers in Victoria, Australia. Occupational & Environmental Medicine. April 2021;78(4):296‐302. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33115923/. Accessed May 10, 2023.
17. Newbigin K, et al. Stonemasons with silicosis: preliminary findings and a warning message from Australia. Respirology. December 2019;24(12):1220‐1221. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31407419/. Accessed May 9. 2023.
18. Moyce SC, Schenker M. Occupational Exposures and Health Outcomes Among Immigrants in the USA. Current Environmental Health Reports. September 2017;4:349–54. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28812286/. Accessed May 8, 2023.
19. Wu N, et al. Artificial stone-associated silicosis in China: A prospective comparison with natural stone-associated silicosis. Respirology. May 2020; 25, 518–524. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7187561/. Accessed August 16, 2023.
20. California Department of Public Health. Health Advisory. Global Epidemic Comes to California: Silicosis in Countertop Workers (July 25, 2023). https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/CAHAN/Global-Epidemic-Comes-to-California-Silicosis-in-Countertop-Workers.aspx. Accessed November 2, 2023.
21. Bos S, et al. Survival in adult lung transplantation: where are we in 2020? Current Opinion in Organ Transplant. 2020; 25(3):268-273. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32332197/. Accessed November 2, 2023.
22. León-Jiménez A, et al. Artificial Stone Silicosis: Rapid Progression Following Exposure Cessation. Chest Journal. September 2020;158(3):1060-1068. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32563682/. Accessed August 16, 2023.
23. Ramkissoon C, et al. Engineered Stone Fabrication Work Releases Volatile Organic Compounds Classified as Lung Irritants. Annals of Work Exposures and Health. February 13, 2023); 67(2) 288–293. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36239208/. Accessed August 16, 2023.
24. Ramkissoon C, et al. Characterisation of dust emissions from machined engineered stones to understand the hazard for accelerated silicosis. Scientific Reports. March 14, 2022; 12:42351 (2022). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-08378-8. Accessed August 16, 2023
25. Pavan C, et al. Editor’s Highlight: Abrasion of Artificial Stones as a New Cause of an Ancient Disease. Physicochemical Features and Cellular Responses. Toxicological Sciences. June 2, 2016; 153(1), 4–17. https://academic.oup.com/toxsci/article/153/1/4/2223603?login=false. Accessed August 16, 2023.
26. California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA). Special emphasis program—occupational exposure to Respirable crystalline silica cut stone and stone product manufacturing. https://www.dir.ca.gov/DOSHPol/DOSH-PP-SEP-on-Silica.pdf. Accessed April 27, 2023.
27. Surasi K, et al. Elevated exposures to respirable crystalline silica among engineered stone fabrication workers in California, January 2019–February 2020. American Journal of Industrial Medcine. September 2022;65:701‐707. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35899403/. Accessed April 24, 2023.
28. Spiegel A, et al. Self‐reported silica exposures and workplace protections among engineered stone fabrication workers in California. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. December 2022;65:1022-1024. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36214615/. Accessed May 8, 2023.

January 2024