Slippery Rock Gazette

Emerson Schwartzkopf

Stone Update Editor

Fabricator education on silicosis broadened last month when quartz-surface producer Caesarstone introduced an educational series on the workplace hazard.

The Master of Stone program, involving in-person seminars and online training at no charge, debuted The International Surfaces Event (TISE) on Jan. 28-29, with more sessions set nationwide through 2020.

The initiative by the Israeli manufacturer comes during heightened awareness of exposure to crystalline silica during fabrication – particularly with quartz surfaces – and increased industry education efforts such as those from the Natural Stone Institute.

Caesarstone worked 19 months in developing its own program, noted Elizabeth Margles, vice president of marketing for Caesarstone North America.

Elizabeth Margles, V.P. Marketing, Caesarstone Photo ©dolcemag.com

“It’s launching in all the countries in which we operate,” she said. “We developed it by learning in the field, from conversations that we’ve had on the regulatory level with our peers.

“When dealing with the dust risk and its implications, we at Caesarstone are determined to become part of the solution by being proactive and leading the revolution to create a safer work environment for all.”

The core of the Master of Stone effort is an Online Training Center containing short, visually appealing e-modules for shop owners and employees, Margles said, with a curriculum that includes – but isn’t limited to – silicosis prevention.

“It’s everything from dust prevention, obviously, and management to regular cleaning of your shops, “she said, “to regular cleaning of the stone, or when to use silicone and when not to, removing stains, all that kind of thing. It is really quite broad and deep at the same time.”

Participants take a quiz at the end of each module and must get a 100 percent score to be certified by Caesarstone.

It’s also a program destined for more material. During the first session at TISE with The Rockheads Group, Margles said they’d generated three new topics for learning modules based on the feedback.

“We keep saying it’s very evolutionary,” she noted.

The program also involves guidance on regulation compliance, including assistance from the company’s in-the-field technical supervisors.

“If you have any questions, and if you’re a bit wary of maybe going directly to the regulatory agency to start – by all means, call us,” Margles said. “Use us as a resource, We will come out, we will help you, we will guide you, and we’ll put you in the best position possible.”

The program formally launched on February 3, 2020 when the website and e-Learning modules went live online. The program will be available in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and Hebrew.

The company will also hold training seminars throughout the year, with the first sessions set for the first quarter in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago and Dallas. Other locations are planned for cities on both coasts.

“This is an investment in our customers’ businesses,” Margles said. “We want them to do well, and obviously we want to sell more product. But, at the end of the day, we can e with them what we are learning, and for them to share that learning with their employees.

“We’re taking the first step making sure that we know everything that there is to know about health and safety and silicosis prevention and sharing everything with them. We’re making it as easy as possible for them to follow regulations, and to follow safe practices.”

Fabricator signup for the program is available at https://mos.caesarstoneus.com/.

Reprinted by kind permission from Stone Update, www.stoneupdate.com .