Compliance Guide · Stone Fabricators
OSHA Silica Compliance
for Stone Fabricators
OSHA's crystalline silica standard applies to every stone fabrication shop cutting granite, quartzite, or traditional engineered quartz. This guide covers what the standard requires — and how switching to silica-free stone eliminates the compliance burden entirely for those materials.
Published by Urban Stone Source · Last updated: June 2026
50 μg/m³
OSHA PEL (8-hr TWA)
25 μg/m³
OSHA Action Level
80–99%
Silica in quartzite
0%
Silica in PHI, Symphony & QT
The Standard
What OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1053 requires
OSHA's crystalline silica standard for general industry (29 CFR 1910.1053) applies to stone fabrication shops. When workers are exposed at or above the Action Level (25 μg/m³ as an 8-hour TWA), the following requirements apply:
Exposure assessment
Measure or determine worker exposure to crystalline silica. Employers can use air monitoring, objective data, or OSHA's Table 1 controls. Reassessment required if conditions change.
Engineering controls
Use wet cutting methods, local exhaust ventilation (LEV), or enclosed operating spaces to keep airborne silica below the PEL. Respiratory protection may supplement — but not substitute for — engineering controls.
Written exposure control plan
Document the specific tasks that involve silica exposure, the engineering controls used, and the procedures to minimize exposure. Must be reviewed at least annually.
Housekeeping
Prohibit dry sweeping or dry compressed air to clean surfaces where silica dust is present. Use wet methods or HEPA vacuum systems.
Medical surveillance
Provide medical exams to workers exposed at or above the Action Level for 30 or more days per year. Includes chest X-ray, pulmonary function test, and tuberculosis risk assessment. Required every 3 years (or more frequently if physician recommends).
Employee training
Train workers on silica health effects, operations that expose them to silica, methods to limit exposure, and the purpose and requirements of the medical surveillance program.
Recordkeeping
Maintain records of air monitoring results, objective data used, and medical surveillance for the duration of employment plus 30 years.
Note: Construction operations (29 CFR 1926.1153) follow Table 1 task-based controls. Most stone countertop fabrication is general industry under 1910.1053.
Silica by Material
Crystalline silica content across common countertop materials
The Compliance Advantage
How silica-free stone changes the equation for Georgia, Alabama & Tennessee fabricators
When a fabrication shop in Atlanta, Birmingham, or Nashville switches to PHI, Symphony, or Quartz Trend for a job, the OSHA silica standard simply does not apply to that operation. There is no crystalline silica in the material — no hazardous dust is generated, no exposure measurement is required, and no controls are mandated by law.
For shops in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee serving both standard and silica-free materials, the operational benefit is immediate: the silica compliance program still applies to traditional stone operations, but silica-free slabs can be cut on standard dry equipment without additional OSHA controls — reducing cost, setup time, and administrative burden on those jobs.
FAQ
OSHA silica compliance — common questions
Does OSHA's silica standard apply to countertop installers as well as fabricators?
Yes. Installers who cut or grind stone at the job site are covered by OSHA's silica standard for construction (29 CFR 1926.1153). Table 1 of that standard provides specific control methods for handheld grinders and other tools used in countertop installation. Silica-free materials eliminate the exposure risk for those cutting operations.
Can I use respiratory protection instead of engineering controls?
No — OSHA requires employers to use engineering and work practice controls to reduce silica exposure to or below the PEL before relying on respirators. Respirators may be used in addition to (not instead of) engineering controls when controls alone cannot achieve the PEL. The hierarchy of controls requires engineering controls first.
What is the OSHA inspection trigger for stone fabrication shops?
OSHA can inspect fabrication shops through programmed inspections (targeting high-hazard industries), complaint-based inspections (from workers or neighbors), or referrals. OSHA's National Emphasis Program (NEP) on crystalline silica specifically targets stone fabrication operations. Shops working with high-silica materials like quartzite or traditional quartz are at elevated inspection risk.
How do I document that PHI, Symphony, or Quartz Trend is silica-free?
Request the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and independent laboratory test reports from Urban Stone Source. The SDS for each product lists 0% crystalline silica in the composition section. The independent laboratory certification documents verify this to OSHA's standard. Contact us at sales@urbanstonesource.net or (336) 407-9167.
Georgia · Alabama · Tennessee
Eliminate the silica compliance burden for your shop
PHI, Symphony, and Quartz Trend — certified 0% crystalline silica. Exclusive to Urban Stone Source in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee. Request samples or call (336) 407-9167.