FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ISFA Responds to WOEMA Petition Calling for a Ban on Engineered Stone Fabrication
Pittsburgh, PA— December 15, 2025— The International Surface Fabricators Association( ISFA) today issued a statement in response to the Western Occupational & Environmental Medical Association( WOEMA) petition urging Cal / OSHA to prohibit the fabrication and installation of engineered stone containing more than 1 % crystalline silica. ISFA has deep respect for the medical community— including WOEMA physicians who treat individuals a�ected by silicosis and other occupational diseases. Their work is critical, and their commitment to worker health is shared by ISFA and fabricators across the United States. However, ISFA does not support a blanket ban on engineered stone and believes the conclusions presented in WOEMA’ s petition do not fully reflect the operational, economic, and regulatory realities of the industry.
A Call for Transparency and Collaborative Understanding
Before California considers a prohibition that would reshape an entire sector of the construction and remodeling economy, ISFA respectfully requests an opportunity to understand how WOEMA concluded that engineered stone cannot be fabricated safely— even in shops fully compliant with Cal / OSHA’ s existing silica standard.
A complete assessment requires:
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Clear separation of product hazard from employer non-compliance Economic impact data on small and mid-sized fabrication businesses A realistic analysis of workforce consequences Understanding of supply chain and tooling transitions what Input from fabricators, manufacturers, and worker communities
Additionally, Australia’ s policy model is not directly transferable to the United States. Our regulatory structures, enforcement capacity, market composition, and economic environment di�er significantly. California must develop solutions based on American conditions— not assumptions drawn from another country’ s framework.
A Ban Is Not the Solution— Enforcement and Licensing Are
“ ISFA does not believe a ban is the answer,” Laurie Weber, CEO stated.“ The problem is not the material— the problem is employers ignoring the law and a lack of enforcement resources to ensure compliance. California already prohibits dry cutting. California already requires controls. The issue is compliance, not the material.”