WOEMA Submits Petition to Revise 8 CCR § 5204 (Occupational Exposures to Respirable Crystalline Silica)

Dear WOEMA Members,

We would like to share an important advocacy update on behalf of the Western Occupational and Environmental Medicine Association (WOEMA).

On December 12, 2025 WOEMA formally submitted a petition to the Cal/OSHA Standards Board to revise 8 CCR § 5204 (Occupational Exposures to Respirable Crystalline Silica) to prohibit all fabrication and installation tasks on engineered stone that contains more than 1% crystalline silica. This action reflects WOEMA’s ongoing commitment to worker health and the prevention of serious occupational disease.

Our petition highlights the growing body of medical and public health evidence demonstrating the risks associated with engineered stone and the urgent need for regulatory action to protect workers in California. For those interested in reviewing our full petition letter, it is available by clicking here. We also encourage members to read this recent KQED article about the WOEMA petition

Thank you for your continued engagement and support of WOEMA’s advocacy efforts. We will keep you informed as this issue progresses.