OSHA and NIOSH have jointly issued a hazard alert regarding the dangers of silica exposure during the manufacturing and installation of stone counter tops. The alert mentions a workers in Spain and Israel who developed a disease called silicosis.
Silicosis is an incurable disease that is often disabling and unfortunately can be fatal. According to the OSHA news release, “Symptoms of silicosis include shortness of breath, cough, and fatigue. Workers exposed to airborne crystalline silica also are at increased risk for lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney disease ”
To learn more about how to protect workers from silica you can visit https://www.osha.gov/dsg/topics/silicacrystalline/index.html.
