Bill Would Require Certification for Stone Fabrication Shops

A California bill introduced Thursday would create a statewide certification system for fabrication shops working with engineered stone and other slab materials, tightening oversight of silica exposure risks. Assembly Bill 2137 would require the Department of Industrial Relations, or Cal/OSHA, to develop an application and certification process for businesses engaged in “slab solid surface product fabrication activities.” The measure targets fabrication work involving materials such as artificial stone, granite and marble, where cutting and grinding can generate respirable c...