NSI Offer Silica Progress Report
OBERLIN, Ohio – The Natural Stone Institute (NSI) has released State of Silica Safety: 2024-35 Progress Report & 2026 Roadmap.
The document outlines industry action taken over the past two years to protect workers, strengthen safety practices and respond to changing regulatory and legal environments related to respirable crystalline silica (RCS).
The report shows progress made through strengthened scientific and medical expertise, greater education and training, improved regulatory engagement and continued advocacy.
In collaboration with the International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA), NSI has also secured a partnership with Yale School of Medicine, delivering comprehensive, science-driven guidance documents specific to stone fabrication environments.
This includes reviews of exposure and clinical studies, new guidance for air sampling and employee medical surveillance and a new RCS exposure study based on industry-provided air sampling data that represents the largest known pool of U.S. data from stone fabrication shops.
The State of Silica Safety report also highlights education efforts, including national webinars, in-person and online training that has directly reached more than 2,000 stone professionals, and the promotion of the NSI’s Silica Training Certificate Program, which is available in both English and Spanish.
Renewal courses for the Silica & Slab Safety Certificate Program are also now available.
The report also details stronger relationships with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and other regulatory and public health agencies, as well as continued advocacy for eliminating dry cutting, improved housekeeping practices and expanded air sampling and employee medical surveillance.
Looking ahead, the 2026 roadmap details plans to complete a medical surveillance study with Yale School of Medicine, conduct a new economic impact study related to OSHA and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) compliance, expand legislative and legal advocacy efforts and launch additional silica-focused training courses.
The State of Silica Safety: 2024-25 Progress Report & 2026 Roadmap reflects NSI’s continued investment in research, education, advocacy and collaboration to support worker safety and industry confidence.
To download a copy of the report, go to www.naturalstoneinstitute.org