Bill Proposes Safety Standards for Stone Slab Products

A bill introduced ahead of the 2025 legislative session aims to protect workers in stonecutting shops from exposure to respirable crystalline silica. Senate Bill 20, by Sen. Caroline Menjivar, D-Van Nuys, would require using wet methods to cut stone slab products for countertops and other projects. The bill would authorize the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to issue immediate stop-work orders to companies cutting stone slabs using dry methods. The bill would also direct the Department of Public Health to adopt a training curriculum for safe fabrication activities and implement a ...