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0Hi, I’m K. Schipper with the latest in hard surfaces industry news from Radio Stone Update.
00:33
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration – OSHA – announced last month that it has fined a Chicago-based shop more than $1 million for failing to protect workers from silica dust.
An inspection of Florenza Marble & Granite Corp., in February found workers exposed to levels of silica dust up to six times greater than permissible limits. The inspection came after OSHA learned that a 31-year-old employee needed a double lung transplant after suffering accelerated silicosis.
Inspectors later learned that the employee’s 59-year-old father – who also works in the shop – is also awaiting a silicosis-related lung transplant. A 47-year-old employee has been treated for an unresolved work-related lung disease for more than three years.
When inspectors conducted air sampling at the shop, they found employees working in a cloud of dust, and workers wearing their required respirators improperly. They also found the shop had few controls in place to reduce silica exposure to employees cutting both engineered and natural stone countertops.
Further investigation found that owner Brad Karp did not develop a safety program to protect or monitor the health of his six employees, even though two workers-compensation insurance carriers refused to insure the company since 2022 for not providing air sampling or proving it protected its workers. An OSHA official called Karp indifferent to his employees’ suffering.
Among the willful violations OSHA found were:
• Failing to establish a baseline of employees’ medical health to monitor silica exposure;
• Not performing medical surveillance to monitor exposure;
• Lacking engineering and administrative controls to reduce silica dust to safe levels;
• Exposing workers to unsafe levels of silica dust, and;
• Failing to have a respirator program in place.
In addition, the agency identified 20 serious violations related to a number of different issues. Although Florenza was required to address some issues immediately, it may appeal others by Sept. 18.
OSHA officials noted that the two workers suffering from silicosis have limited English proficiency and received no information from their employer about the dangers of silica exposure or training in the use of personal protective equipment and other precautions to protect their health and safety.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the life expectancy for people diagnosed with silicosis is reduced by about 11 years. The chance of surviving 15 years after a lung transplant is less than 11 percent.
03:18
The National Tile Contractors Association — the NTCA — announces that Jeremy Sax is joining the organization as its new deputy director, effective immediately.
Sax has more than 26 years of experience in the tile industry, beginning in 1998 when he was hired as director of domestic sales for a Miami tile company. Since then, he has held significant leadership positions in various sectors including manufacturing, distribution, and private equity.
Among his other positions, Sax spent 18 years at DalTile in eight different roles, overseeing various business operations in both the commercial and residential channels. Most recently he held the position of vice president of sales and marketing for The Aldinger Company at Incline Equity Partners.
Noted for his ability to scale businesses, drive organizational growth, and engage with stakeholders effectively, Sax’s experience in the global construction industry, combined with his background in private equity, offers a unique perspective that should greatly benefit NTCA.
In his new position as deputy director of the NTCA, Sax is expected to play a crucial role in supporting the association’s objectives to enhance industry standards, foster professional growth and advocate for the tile contracting community.
“He joins our team ready to form a strong personal legacy and is excited to help NTCA expand its outreach and meet our lofty goals,” said NTCA Executive Director Bart Bettiga.
06:04
OSHA isn’t the only agency lowering the boom on crystalline silica. State safety inspectors in Burlington, Wash., cited a fabricator there for numerous violations, resulting in an almost $330,000 fine.
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industry took action against A+ Marble & Granite LLC in July after several inspections, including one requiring a warrant from a county court. Inspectors first cited the company for safety problems in April 2022.
They alleged that follow-up visits in February and March of this year found little improvement in conditions. Claiming the owner was uncooperative, the inspectors were forced to get a warrant from Skagit County Superior Court to enter the shop and take samples.
The owner admitted that no changes had been made to correct the violations from the 2022 inspection, and the inspectors found workers using the same polishing equipment and techniques that had led them to cite the owner two years ago.
He was specifically cited for 10 instances of failure to abate existing issues and more than a dozen serious and repeat violations. The company has filed an appeal.
07:18
And, with an increase in silicosis cases among stone shop workers in that state, California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) recently cited nine fabrication shops in the Sun Valley area of greater Los Angeles. The safety violations earned the nine companies more than $168,000 in fines.
Each company was fined $18,785, except for one that received an $18,320 fine. All were found to be in violation of multiple regulations, including failure to use methods to effectively suppress dust and failure to provide their employees with full-face, tight-fitting power air-purifying respirators.
Since 2019, The California Department of Public Health has confirmed a total of 176 cases of silicosis related to engineered stone, including at least 13 deaths and at least 19 individuals who have undergone lung transplants. Of those 176 cases, 105 have occurred in Los Angeles County.
In December of last year, an emergency temporary standard enhanced existing guidelines for respirable crystalline silica hazards. Since that time, Cal/OSHA intensified its enforcement and education efforts. California workers who have questions or concerns can call 833-579-0927.
08:47
Think you’re the best poker player in the stone industry? Are you willing to put your money down for bragging rights to the whole industry? If so, the Natural Stone Foundation (NSF) wants you.
A group of board members for the Natural Stone Foundation is hosting the first ever “All in for Natural Stone Poker Tournament” this coming Nov. 14 to raise money for the Natural Stone Foundation and another charity dear to the hearts of many in the industry, the Gary Sinise Foundation.
The event will be held on Zoom utilizing Poker4Life.org and is expected to last four to five hours as the number of contestants dwindles to a precious few before crowning a champion.
Jonathan Zanger, a former Natural Stone Institute president, current NSF board member, and enthusiastic poker player, drew on his experience with past charity poker tournaments to propose the “All in for Natural Stone Poker Tournament.”
He explains that for several years he attended in-person poker tournaments to raise funds for a particular charity. When COVID came, organizers developed a platform to do an online tournament. It’s been so successful they’ve continued online and developed a platform for other charities and non-profits to use.
The organizing committee’s most-immediate need is for sponsors for the event. Zanger says the number of sponsors is being kept small, with one grand sponsor for $15,000, and other sponsorships at the $7,500 and $5,000 levels.
Because of gambling laws, cash can’t be awarded to the winners, but items such as gift cards are okay. The sponsorships are mainly to pay to put on the tournament, for a website to collect the money and dispense it, and any other fees.
Zanger stresses sponsorships aren’t the only way for companies to participate in the tournament. An individual entry is only $150.00, and companies can purchase packages of entries and re-buys, at a substantial discount.
The game will be Texas Hold ‘Em, currently the most popular style of poker, and those who want to brush up on their skills before the event can find plenty of websites where you can learn to play and watch tournaments. All funds raised will be split 75-25 between the NSF and the Gary Sinise Foundation.
Stone industry members wanting to know more about the tournament and how they can get involved should email all.in.for.stone@gmail.com. Zanger says a landing page for the organization should be available soon.
11:23
The International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA) and the Worktop Fabricators Federation (WFF) announced a strategic partnership on Sept. 3 to enhance surface fabrication worldwide.
The collaboration between ISFA and WFF is expected to bring a wealth of new opportunities to surface fabricators, including access to cutting-edge training programs, enhanced advocacy efforts and a broader network of resources.
Marissa Bankert, executive director of ISFA, called the partnership a significant step forward. She said, “By combining our resources and expertise, we can offer unparalleled support to fabricators around the world.”
Nigel Fletcher, operations officer at WWF, called the move a natural progression for both organizations. Says Fletcher, “This collaboration is about ensuring that all fabricators have the tools and knowledge they need to succeed.”
Founded in 1997, the United States-based ISFA initially focused on manufactured surfaces like solid surface. In recent years, it has expanded to represent fabricators and industry professionals who work with all kinds of materials, including stone and engineered stone.
The United Kingdom-based WFF began in 2020 to promote professionalism across the industry, including best practices, standards and regulations that foster health and safety in the workplace. It serves as a unified voice for industry issues such as silica safety.
13:01
Online registration for next year’s Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS), set for Feb. 25-27 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, is now open.
KBIS is North America’s largest kitchen and bath trade show and is expected to feature more than 670 exhibitors.
The show is part of Design & Construction Week, the co-location of KBIS and the International Builders’ Show. The concurrent shows allow attendees to discover new brands and products, and learn about the latest trends, as well as forge industry connections.
KBIS 2025 will kick off on Tuesday, Feb. 25 and will take place in the South, North and West halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center, as well as an interactive outdoor exhibit area.
Registration is free for National Kitchen and Bath Association – NKBA — members through the month of September. For more information on KBIS 2025, go to www.nkba.org.
14:05
Austin, Texas-based Vadara Quartz Surfaces announces it has added four new distributors representing the East Coast from South Carolina to New York.
Vadara’s new stone surfacing partners are:
Global Stone Granite & Marble, which serves the New York boroughs except Manhattan, as well as Westchester County;
Dente Trading, which serves Manhattan, New Jersey and the Greater Philadelphia markets;
MMG Tile + Stone, which covers Maryland, Delaware, Washington and Northern Virginia, and;
Francini, Inc., whose markets include both North Carolina and South Carolina.
The four distributors will assist Vadara with expanding the quartz manufacturer’s reach in the region. All have been established in the stone industry for years and are expected to play significant roles in strategically extending the Vadara brand.
Ed Rogers, executive vice president of U.S. Surfaces, the parent company of Vadara, says that these East Coast dealers, should prove to be an invaluable asset for Vadara and increase brand recognition across the region.
15:12
And Princeton Chemical Company (PCC) announces it has expanded its Join.It.Adhesive customer service team with the hiring of Amanda Ruth.
Ruth will serve as a dedicated customer service specialist with Join.It.Adhesive where she will be responsible for helping to maintain a high level of satisfaction, respond to inquiries and assist in fulfilling the needs of current and potential customers.
She has more than 12 years of experience providing customer care, servicing customer needs and assisting with shipping operations. She holds a bachelor’s degree from DeVry University in business management.
Ruth works out of PCC’s factory and warehouse facility in Baltimore and can be reached by calling 667-230-0021 or at service@princetonchemco.com.
16:06
Remember, our electronic newsletter, Slab & Sheet, comes out on alternate Wednesdays. For a transcript of this broadcast, go to www.radiostoneupdate.com. For Radio Stone Update, I’m K. Schipper, and we’ll see you here again soon.
