California Board Advances Toward Quartz Countertop Ban Over Silicosis

TL;DR

Quartz Ban Push: California’s workplace safety board voted to start rulemaking toward banning fabrication and installation of engineered stone countertops containing more than 1% crystalline silica.
Silicosis Surge: Cases rose from 52 in 2022 to 531 in 2026, with 30 deaths and over 550 sickened since 2019 among mostly Latino immigrant workers.[[1]](https://nypost.com/2026/05/21/health/california-moves-to-ban-quartz-countertops-as-deadly-lung-disease-surges-among-workers/)[[2]](https://capitalandmain.com/california-could-be-the-first-state-to-ban-quartz-countertops)
Australia Precedent: Regulators follow Australia’s 2024 ban after similar worker illnesses; the move follows a December 2025 petition by occupational physicians.[[3]](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/california-board-advances-quartz-countertop-fabrication-ban)

The story at a glance

California’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board voted 3-0 on May 21, 2026, to direct Cal/OSHA to begin drafting rules that would prohibit work on engineered stone (commonly called quartz countertops) with more than 1% crystalline silica. The action responds to a sharp rise in silicosis, an incurable lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust during cutting, grinding, and polishing in fabrication shops. The board’s step follows a petition from the Western Occupational and Environmental Medical Association and mirrors Australia’s full ban on the material.[[3]](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/california-board-advances-quartz-countertop-fabrication-ban)[[4]](https://publichealthwatch.org/2026/05/21/california-ban-stone-countertops-workplace-epidemic-silicosis/)

Key points

Engineered stone contains over 90% crystalline silica, far higher than natural granite or marble, producing especially fine, toxic dust when worked.[[2]](https://capitalandmain.com/california-could-be-the-first-state-to-ban-quartz-countertops)
California has recorded 542 silicosis cases and 29-30 deaths among fabrication workers since 2019, with cases concentrated in Los Angeles County and affecting predominantly young Latino men, many immigrants.[[2]](https://capitalandmain.com/california-could-be-the-first-state-to-ban-quartz-countertops)[[5]](https://publichealthwatch.org/2026/04/14/california-silicosis-ban-lung-disease-stone-countertops/)
Prior emergency rules (adopted 2023, made permanent 2024) required wet cutting, ventilation, and respirators, but compliance remains low: 94% of inspected shops violated standards.[[1]](https://nypost.com/2026/05/21/health/california-moves-to-ban-quartz-countertops-as-deadly-lung-disease-surges-among-workers/)
The board rejected a slower advisory-committee approach and opted for expedited rulemaking, though full implementation could take months or years.[[4]](https://publichealthwatch.org/2026/05/21/california-ban-stone-countertops-workplace-epidemic-silicosis/)
Industry groups argue the problem lies with non-compliant shops rather than the product and warn a ban could drive operations underground.[[1]](https://nypost.com/2026/05/21/health/california-moves-to-ban-quartz-countertops-as-deadly-lung-disease-surges-among-workers/)
Victims and doctors testified that safer alternatives (amorphous silica or other materials) exist and that enforcement alone has failed to stop new cases.[[2]](https://capitalandmain.com/california-could-be-the-first-state-to-ban-quartz-countertops)

Details and context

The material, popular for its durability, color variety, and lower cost than natural stone, is made by crushing quartz and binding it with resins and pigments. When fabricators cut or polish slabs without full dust controls, respirable crystalline silica particles scar the lungs irreversibly. Silicosis has no cure; advanced cases require oxygen or lung transplants that typically extend life only a few years.[[5]](https://publichealthwatch.org/2026/04/14/california-silicosis-ban-lung-disease-stone-countertops/)

Current rules mandate water suppression and personal protective equipment, yet Cal/OSHA inspections found widespread violations, including dry cutting. A new state law effective January 1, 2026, raised penalties, but physicians contend the material’s high toxicity makes safe fabrication impractical for most small shops.[[2]](https://capitalandmain.com/california-could-be-the-first-state-to-ban-quartz-countertops)

Australia banned engineered stone in 2024 after its own outbreak; manufacturers there shifted to lower-silica alternatives. California would become the first U.S. state to take a similar step if the rulemaking succeeds.[[3]](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/california-board-advances-quartz-countertop-fabrication-ban)

Key quotes

“The evidence is now clear that engineered stone containing crystalline silica is too toxic to fabricate and install safely, and education and enforcement alone will not be sufficient…” — Western Occupational and Environmental Medical Association.[[1]](https://nypost.com/2026/05/21/health/california-moves-to-ban-quartz-countertops-as-deadly-lung-disease-surges-among-workers/)
“How many more need to die for someone to take this seriously?” — Ruby Lopez, whose husband was diagnosed with silicosis.[[1]](https://nypost.com/2026/05/21/health/california-moves-to-ban-quartz-countertops-as-deadly-lung-disease-surges-among-workers/)

Why it matters

The decision addresses a documented occupational health crisis affecting hundreds of workers who produce a common household product. Consumers and businesses may eventually face higher costs or shifts to alternative countertop materials if a ban takes effect. Regulators must still complete rulemaking and another vote, so the timeline and final scope remain uncertain.

FAQ

Q: Why is California considering a ban on quartz countertops?

A: Regulators cite an epidemic of silicosis among fabrication workers, with cases rising sharply despite existing safety rules, and argue the material’s high silica content makes it too toxic for safe handling even with controls.

Q: How many workers have been affected in California?

A: State data show 542 confirmed silicosis cases and about 30 deaths among countertop fabricators since 2019, up from 52 cases in 2022 to 531 in 2026.

Q: What did the board actually vote to do on May 21?

A: It approved a petition directing Cal/OSHA to begin expedited rulemaking for a prohibition on fabricating and installing engineered stone with more than 1% crystalline silica, while also forming an advisory committee.

Q: Has any other place banned this material?

A: Australia implemented a nationwide ban on engineered stone in 2024 following a similar silicosis outbreak among workers.