California proposes ban on engineered quartz countertops amid silicosis outbreak
The state Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board is set to propose a ban on the production and installation of engineered quartz after hundreds of workers have been diagnosed with silicosis, a fatal lung disease.
California regulators are preparing to propose the nation’s first ban on engineered quartz, a material widely used for high-end kitchen and bathroom countertops. The Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board plans to formalize the proposal this month after releasing a discussion draft in September. The draft cites a “silicosis crisis” and requests that the state prohibit fabrication and installation of engineered stone containing more than one percent crystalline silica.
State health data show 662 confirmed cases of engineered-stone silicosis and 35 deaths since 2019, with a median diagnosis age of 46 and median age at death of 52. Most victims are male Latino workers; 98% of cases involve this demographic. Current safety measures, such as wet saws and respirators, have been deemed insufficient, and fully enclosed cutting systems are not widely available in the industry.
Manufacturers argue that the risk stems from improper fabrication practices rather than the product itself. Rebecca Shult, chief legal officer of Cambria USA, told a House subcommittee that “the problem … is the unlawful fabrication cutting businesses who violate the regulations and requirements.” Legal representatives for affected workers, including James Nevin of Brayton Purcell LLP, contend that the material’s crystalline silica content is inherently hazardous and that bans similar to Australia’s 2024 prohibition are justified.
The proposed rule would require the state to review the draft before any ban takes effect, aiming to protect workers from further silicosis cases while offering consumers alternative countertop materials such as tile, laminate, butcher block, porcelain and solid surfaces.