California moves to ban engineered quartz countertops over silicosis risk

The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board is expected to vote in October on an emergency rule that would ban the manufacture and installation of engineered quartz countertop products with over 1% crystalline silica. The measure follows reports that a significant number of workers who cut and finish quartz slabs have been diagnosed with silicosis, a lung disease caused by inhaling fine silica particles.

Silicosis can lead to scarring of lung tissue and, in severe cases, may require lung transplantation, according to public health officials. State health data indicate that hundreds of countertop workers in California have received a silicosis diagnosis in recent years, with several deaths reported.

Proponents of the ban argue that existing occupational safety regulations have not adequately protected workers in small fabrication shops, where most cutting and shaping of quartz occurs. Industry representatives counter that the material can be used safely if proper fabrication practices are followed, suggesting that the issue lies with work methods rather than the quartz itself.

"The health and safety of workers must be the top priority," said a spokesperson for the state health department.

If adopted, the rule would make California the first state to restrict engineered quartz products on the basis of silica content, potentially setting a precedent for other jurisdictions.