Calif. Silicosis Legislation Still on Track
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California’s latest effort to address the rapid rise of silicosis cases among stone fabricators is moving forward.
On June 2, the California state senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 20, entitled the Silicosis Training Outreach and Prevention or STOP Act, and sent on to the California assembly.
The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Caroline Menjivar (D-San Fernando Valley) was written especially on the behalf of worker in her district, named ground zero for work=related silicosis cases by the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health.
Sen. Menjivar noted that the San Fernando Valley continues to be the epicenter of silicosis cases in California.
“Even after Cal/OSHA adopted new permanent rules, cases continue to be on the rise. In fact, since I introduced the bill, over 80 new cases have been identified,” she said.
Senate Bill 20 would require the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) to:
- Adopt a training program on best practices related to fabrication activities;
- Develop a certification process for fabrication shops which reinforces Cal/OSHA’s safety standards and require workers to undergo a Department of Industrial Relations training program, and;
- Begin issuing three-year certificates to fabrication shops that meet DIR’s certification criteria. The certification would require a fee that would be deposited in a new state Slab Fabrication Activity Account to fund the regulation process.
- Prohibit fabrication in non-certified shops, and prohibit the supply of slabs to non-certified shops.
SB 20 is expected to be referred to the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee where it could face a public hearing as early as late this month.
