The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) launched a compliance assistance program to protect stone fabrication and installation workers. The program establishes procedures for prioritizing federal OSHA inspections to identify and ensure prompt abatement of hazards in covered industries where workers face exposure to high levels of silica dust.

OSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health identify silica dust exposure as a health hazard for workers involved in manufacturing, finishing and installing natural and manufactured stone, which includes the man-made, engineered artificial or cultured types.

Industries subject to the prioritized programmed inspections include those engaged in cut stone and stone product manufacturing as well as brick, stone and related construction material merchant wholesalers. Outreach efforts will continue to include additional industries that may work with engineered stone.