California Faces a Growing Silicosis Crisis Among Artificial Stone Countertop Fabrication Workers

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

56% : Studies by NIOSH, various state health authorities, and various health agencies throughout the world, have documented exposure levels ranging from 215 to 680 μg/m³ -- far exceeding the U.S. occupational exposure limit of 50 μg/m³ (Phillips ML et al., J. Occup.
54% : (Id.) Recent case data has shown that nearly half of diagnosed patients first seek care in emergency rooms, often in critical condition (Fazio JC, Gandhi SA, Flattery J, et al., JAMA Intern Med. 2023; 183(9):991-998, p. 3).
54% : California Tracks Cases as Numbers Rise California's Department of Public Health (CDPH) has established a dedicated Artificial Stone Silicosis Surveillance Dashboard to track confirmed cases.
53% : (Safe Work Australia - August 2023 - Decision Regulation Impact Statement: Prohibition on the Use of Engineered Stone; Cavalin C, Menéndez Navarro A, Hesa Mag. 2024; 29:54-57; Fazio et al., 2025, p. 9).
52% : Wkly Rep., Sept. 27, 2019; 68(38):813-818; Dr. Jenny Houlroyd, 2024, "Economic Feasibility of Complying with the OSHA Silica Standard in the Cut Stone Industry"; Qi, et al. - NIOSH - February 2024 - Investigation of Ventilation Engineering Controls for Stone Countertop Fabrication; Fazio et al., 2025, p. 5.)
50% : In some cases, workers have continued fabricating artificial stone countertops even after being diagnosed with silicosis -- simply to provide for their families (Fazio et al., JAMA Intern Med., 2023, p. 3).
50% : Because artificial stone silicosis progresses so rapidly, advocates are urging California courts to expedite trials for these workers to ensure they can secure care before it's too late (Fazio, et al., JAMA Intern Med., 2023; CDPH Dashboard, 2025).
43% : (Id.) Even with dust suppression tools like water systems or local exhaust ventilation, workers in fabrication shops are regularly exposed to airborne silica levels far above legal limits.
41% : Adele Ferguson and Angus Thompson, The Sidney Morning Harold, February 22, 2023, "Benchtop giant, health groups demand dangerous-stone ban" Legal Action May Be the Only Lifeline For many affected workers in California, workers' compensation is not available, because their hirers could not afford to maintain workers' compensation insurance.

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