Page 4 - Demo

SLIPPERY ROCK GAZETTE
d ation
d with
An In-Depth Look at Benchmarking, by Peter Marcucci ............................................................. Begins on 1
The Voice of the Stone Fabricator
Mastering Lead Generation, by Stephen Alberts ........................................................................... Begins on 8
quartzite, various other rocks, and sand. Workers who
Industry Topics, Tips and Featured Columns
Try Something Different This Year, by Sharon Koehler .............................................................SBiliecgoisnisroensu1lt3s in permOaSnHenAt luanngddatmheagNe.aStiiliocanal Institute Stone Restoration and Maintenance Corner –Going from Polished to Honed, dust particles becomfoertraOpcpceudpinatluionngatilssSuaef,ectayusaingd Health
ment of hazards in covered industries Do You Know Your Salary Cap? by Rick Phelps ................................................................................................ 9 where workers face exposure to high
by Bob Murrell ..................................................................................................................................... Begins on 17
identify silica dust exposure as a
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Natural Stone Institute Holds Colorado Study Tour ...................................................................................... 3
to respirable crystalline silica in the stone countertop
Exciting Opportunities Planned for the Industry at TISE 2024 ................................................i.n..d..u..s..t.r..y...i.n...th1e8United States has worked to implement
throughout the United States saw, grind, polish, and
NTCA Five-Star Contractor Program Angles Up with Accreditation .......................................................19
silica exposure,4 studies and OSHA inspections
manufacturing, finishing, and installing countertops.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have identified exposure
Special Feature in this Issue...
®
to silica as a h
installing natu
shops and du simple and eff
Training, Safety and Education
Introduction
Continued from page 1
Industry Calendar of Events and Training: November to January 2024....................................................... 5
are at risk for significant crystalline silica exposure.
Finding Growth Opportunities in an Uncertain Economy, by Ed Young ...............................C...r.y..s..t.a..l.l.in...e..s..i.lic6a commonly occurs in nature as the
Workers involved in manufacturing, finishing, and
Department of Labor Announces New Silica Enforcement and Compliance Initiative ....... Begins on 1
installing natural and manufactured stone countertops
It establishes procedures for prior-
itizing federal OSHA inspections to
identify and ensure prompt abate-
mineral quartz, and is found in granite, sandstone,
inhale very small crystalline silica particles are at risk for silicosis — an incuralbevlee,lpsrogfrseisliscivaedlyudstis.abling and sometimes fatal lung disease.
inflammation and scarring and reducing the lungs’
Cutting stone, as pictured, generates dangerous
ability to take in oxygen. Symptoms of silicosis can
crystalline silica dust that can become trapped in lung tissue and cause silicosis.
neered artificial or cultured types. caused by occupational exposure pulmonary disease (COPD), and kidney disease. silica dust, recommends ways to protect workers, and
Park Industries Celebrates Inaugural ParkFest, Unveils Four Innovative New Products .................... 12 must ensure that workers are properly protected from to the risk of silicosis, an incurable, suffered progressive massive fibro-
® industry following reports from other countries of stone exposure to silica. 1, 2
MILE stone Hosts Gauged Porcelain Installation Training ............................................................cBouengtienrstopnw1o4rkerspdreovgerloepsisnigvseiliycodsis.abIlninagt leanstd some- sis, 11 needed lung transplants and some cases from SptaimineasndfaIstaralelu, wngorkdeirssewaseere. Unsafe sil- 10 died due to their exposures.
Classified Ads .........................................................................................................................................w...o..r.k..s..i.t.e..s...i.n. 2th1e U.Sa. nd Stone Product Manufacturing ufacturing, finishing and installation Working with natural stone, however, involves different
ealth hazard to workers involved in manufacturing, finishing an
New Silica Enforcement and
ral and manufactured stone countertop products, both in fabric ring in-home finishing/installation. This hazard can be mitigate
Compliance Initiative
ective dust controls in most countertop operations.
l i n e s i l i c a p a r t i c l e s e x p o s e w o r k e r e s ff e c t ni v e e e l y r r e e d d u s c t eo n s i e l i . c a O d f u s t h t e e x s pe o ps u a r t e i se . n E t ms , p 2 l o 0 y e r s
Courtesy David L. Johnson & Margaret Phillips,
The Stone Detective and the Case of Oops, I’ve Fallen and Can’t Get Up!
by Frederick M. Hueston ................................................................................................................. Begins on 18
health hazard for workers involved in
include shortness of breath, cough and fatigue, and
manufacturing, finishing and install-
Countertop Fabrication Workers
may or may not be obviously attributable to silica. This Hazard Alert focuses on countertop industry
ing natural and manufactured stone, in California” study cited 52 male
T h e G o o b e r B a t o n G e t s P a s s e d t o a N e w G e n e r a t i o n , b y S a m V e n a b l e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W. . . o . . r . . k . . e . . r . s . . . e . . x . p . . o 1 s 9 e d t o a i r b o r n e c r y s t a l l i n e s i l i c a a l s o a r e w o r k e r e x p o s u r e s t o a i r b o r n e s i l i c a d u s t , i n c l u d i n g f r o m
Industry News
which includes the man-made, engi- patients diagnosed with silicosis
at increased risk for lung cancer, chronic obstructive quartz in stone. It covers the health effects of breathing
W h e n i n h a l e d , v e r y s m a l l c r y s t a d l - e s c r i t b o e s r e h s o p w i r O a S b H l e A s a i n l i d c N a I Od u S s H t c f a r n o m h e l p e n e g m i p - l o y e r s OSHA and NIOSH investigated U.S. worker exposure
MSI Oklahoma Commemorates New Showroom Grand Opening .................................................................. 15
exposed in shops operating without dust suppression,
The Stone Countertop Industry
ica dust exposure can also lead to As part of the initiative, OSHA Tenax Updates Brand with New Logo and Brand Identity ......................................................................... 18 2, 3 Stone industry workers in shops and on job sites
and without respiratory protection. While the stone
chronic obstructive pulmonary dis- is sending affected employers and
ease or kidney disease. stakeholders information on the ini-
drill slabs of natural (mostly granite) and manufactured Industries subject to the prio(rm- an-tmiaatdivee, e,ningicnleuedreindg, ofraccutltsuhrede)tstonedaussptart of
dust controls to protect workers against the dangers of
itized programmed inspections control methods and safer work
indicate that exposure levels may not be adequately
operations.
Marketplace ............................................................................................................................................................... 20
controlled in some sitnocnleucdoeunthteorstoepefnabgraicgaetdionin Cut Stone practices for engineered stone man-
Whether working with natural or manufactured stone, 5 producing finished countertops involves similar tasks.
as well as Brick, Stone and Related
Contributors & Staff Construction Material Merchant 1-800-321-OSHA (6742) • www.osha.gov 1
1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) • www.cdc.gov
Rick Stimac ............................................................................................................................... Publisher Larry M. Hood ...................................................................................... Editor and Design Director G. William Brown.................................................................................................... Graphic Designer Stephen Alberts.......................................................................................Countertop Marketing Co. Mark Anderson ............................................................................................. Department of Humor Frederick M. Hueston ......................................................................Stone Forensics Investigations Sharon Koehler ....................................................................................... Stone Industry Consultant Rufus B. Leakin ............................................................................................ Guru of Urban Folklore Peter Marcucci .................................................................................................... Special Contributor Bob Murrell ................................................................................................... Restoration Consultant Rick Phelps...................................................................................................... Synchronous Solutions Justin Shaw ........................................................................................................ Stone Fabricator Elite Ed Young................................................................................................. Fabricator’s Business Coach Sam Venable........................................................................................................ Department of Irony
Read our online edition at www.slipperyrockgazette.net. Use the Classified drop-down menu to browse ads and to place a classified ad, and the article links to view stories in the current issue. Send advertising inquiries to LHood@ slipperyrockgazette.net, and comments c/o publisher@slipperyrockgazette.net. Subscription requests, a classified ad submission form, current and archived back issues and articles are available online at www.slipperyrockgazette.net .
Wholesalers. Outreach efforts will continue to include additional indus- tries that may work with engineered stone.
A July 2023 study released by the American Medical Association underscores the dangers for work- ers in these industries. The “Silicosis Among Immigrant Engineered Stone
There are several resources avail- able to learn more about crystalline silica hazards and protection includ- ing the 6-page Hazard Alert Bulletin focused on the countertop indus- try, available at https://www.osha. gov/sites/default/files/publications/ OSHA3768.pdf
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