On Sept. 25, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced a new initiative, the Respirable Crystalline Silica Focused Inspection Initiative in the Engineered Stone Fabrication and Installation Industries. The initiative supplements OSHA’s current National Emphasis Program for Respirable Crystalline Silica and prioritizes federal OSHA inspections in workplaces where workers are typically exposed to high levels of silica, Cut Stone and Stone Product Manufacturing (NAICS Code 327991) and Brick, Stone and Related Construction Material Merchant Wholesalers (NAICS Code 423320).

According to OSHA, the scope of the initiative applies to:

• Federal OSHA inspections in OSHA Regions 1 through 8, which are the regions with the highest concentration of establishments in the targeted industry sectors. Programmed inspections will be prioritized in the following two NAICS codes: 327991, Cut Stone and Stone Product Manufacturing, and 423320, Brick, Stone, and Related Construction Material Merchant Wholesalers.

• OSHA inspection data shows that silica overexposures are found more frequently in the Cut Stone and Stone Product Manufacturing industry, NAICS 327991, but also that inspections in the Brick, Stone, and Related Construction Material Merchant Wholesalers industry, NAICS 423320, were five times less frequent than in NAICS 327991.

• This initiative targets and addresses the hazards of overexposure to silica in NAICS 327991 and NAICS 423320 and is expected to increase the likelihood of inspecting high-risk tasks. Area Offices will focus enforcement efforts on these two NAICS codes.

OSHA plans to send affected employers and stakeholders information on the initiative, including fact sheets on dust control methods and safer work practices for engineered stone manufacturing, finishing and installation operations.

Learn more about crystalline silica.