Occupational Safety And Health Standards Board State Of California Public Hearing Transcript Of Proceedings
The primary discussion revolved around addressing silicosis exposure, specifically concerning a petition to potentially ban a product, as an alternative to the proposed ban. Presentations were given by representatives from the International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA), who proposed a three-year licensing and certification program with phased rollouts starting in 2026, emphasizing collaboration and industry oversight. Conversely, representatives from WOEMA and IDEPSCA argued that a ban on the toxic artificial stone is necessary, citing that current controls are insufficient to prevent dangerous exposures. Other commenters discussed the effectiveness of licensing versus banning, the need for control across all silica-generating public works, and presented evidence supporting the safety of using hand tools for fabrication under specific conditions.