L.A. County Ponders Quartz-Surface Ban
LOS ANGELES – Quartz surfaces could be outlawed for future use here later this year due to silicosis concerns.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted June 6 to begin consideration of banning what it called “silica-fabricated stone” within its borders.
The action directed various county officials to report back to the board in 90 days “on the options to ban the sale, fabrication and installation of silica-fabricated stone” and possibly provide money and technical assistance for converting to other materials.
The board also instructed the heads of its public-works and internal-services department to report in 45 days with recommendations on banning future use of quartz surfaces on any county-funded projects.
Any action by the board would have a major influence on the U.S. market and follows in the wake of recent silicosis-related laws and actions, mainly in Australia.
Los Angeles County includes a population of 9.8 million in 88 municipalities, including the cities of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Pasadena and Burbank. While all cities have localized control of some services and planning/zoning, the county sets policies on other issues, including public health.
The supervisors also declared June as Silicosis Awareness Month, and directed county public-health, business-affairs, and social-services directors to report in six months on outreach and education plans for fabricators and consumers regarding health risks.
The Los Angeles County action comes as the state’s main workplace-health agency – Cal/OSHA – plans increased enforcement of air-quality rules concerning crystalline-silica exposure with quartz-surface fabrication.
In early May, the agency and the California Department of Public Health contacted 814 stone-fabrication businesses detailing the dangers of silica, along with the need to protect employees. The letter also linked silica exposure to lung cancer, noting that the state considers crystalline silica a regulated carcinogen under its Section 5203 regulations.
The letter also directed fabrication companies to file a report with Cal/OSHA concerning its operations.
“Cal/OSHA Enforcement will prioritize inspections for employers who have not reported respirable crystalline silica use pursuant to section 5203,” the letter stated.
The letter also noted California’s standards on crystalline-silica exposure – Section 5204 – and cited resources available to aid in compliance.
