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California Adopts Emergency Temporary Standard to Protect Workers from Respirable Crystalline Silica

Silica Testing Services

Category	Press Release
Publish Date	2/26/2024
Author	Paul Cochrane
Title	California Adopts Emergency Temporary Standard to Protect Workers from Respirable Crystalline Silica
Introduction	LA Testing offers industrial hygiene and environmental testing services and monitoring equipment to identify crystalline silica and other airborne pollutants to protect workers and to help keep companies in regulatory compliance.
Huntington Beach, California, February 26, 2024 This past December, the State of California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) announced the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board had approved an emergency temporary standard on respirable crystalline silica to protect workers from silicosis. According to the DIR announcement: Cal/OSHA proposed the emergency temporary standard to protect workers in the stone fabrication industry from silicosis. Workers who breathe in silica particles can develop silicosis - an incurable, progressive disease that causes serious and fatal health effects. The workers most at risk are those who cut artificial stone countertops. “This new emergency temporary standard went into effect on December 29, 2023,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “It is designed to protect workers tasked with cutting, grinding, polishing and cleanup of artificial stone containing more than 0.1% crystalline silica and natural stone containing more than 10% crystalline silica. The standard covers everything from respiratory protection to conducting exposure monitoring at least every 12 months to assess the effectiveness of exposure controls.” Dedicated to protecting California’s workers from exposure to respirable crystalline silica and other dusts are the professionals at LA Testing. They offer industrial hygiene, environmental and material testing for crystalline silica and other airborne hazards. LA Testing provides all of the sampling supplies necessary to collect samples, offers real-time air monitoring instruments, and stocks a comprehensive line of respirators and other personal protective equipment. They even sponsored an educational video about crystalline silica and respirable exposures in the construction industry several years ago that can still be seen at: https://youtu.be/YTwQiEgWLfw To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene, material, environmental or air quality testing resources, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794. About LA Testing LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for environmental and indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, bacteria, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.