Safe Stone Slab Handling II is Newest Marble Institute Release Focus is on Facilities with Overhead

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CLEVELAND, OH, January 5, 2011 — Responding to an alarmingly increasing number of fatalities and serious injuries in the natural stone industry, the Marble Institute of America announced the release of a major new slab handling safety video. Over 60 minutes in length and focusing on facilities with overhead cranes, the newest addition to MIA's ongoing safety initiative was created by a blue-ribbon panel of industry safety executives and funded by nine major natural stone distributors from the U.S. and Canada.

"OSHA reported dozens of slab handling deaths over the last ten years — including several within the past year," said Gary Distelhorst, executive vice president of MIA. "Addressing this deadly problem was a major focal point for us during 2010 and will continue in 2011."

The newest slab handling training program is another step in MIA's ongoing safety initiative which began in 2005, and includes several major components, including previously-produced videos on slab handling, shop safety and silicosis.

"Our new program represents the input of some of the brightest safety minds in our industry," Distelhorst said. "The end product is a superb effort with seven sections, each designed so that they could be utilized as stand-alone safety training session for employees. The entire industry is indebted to our nine sponsors and committee members who made it possible."

The nine sponsoring distributors who made the project possible include AG&M, Daltile, Midwest Tile, Marble & Granite, Mont Granite, MS International, OHM, Omni Surfaces and Walker Zanger.

The eight modules, with clearly defined learning objects for each, are:

• Overview of stone-related accidents that have claimed more than 50 lives in the decade beginning in 2000.
• Slab handling
• Handling slabs with overhead cranes
• Handling slabs with forklifts
• Slings and clamps
• Material handling and containers
• Material handling and flatbed trucks
• Employee & consumer training

MS International's OPS manager and task force member, Loc Nguyen, stated, "We must continue to keep safety to the forefront of the stone industry. If we are keeping score in the issue of 'Man vs. Stone', stone has always come out on top. So let's avoid fatalities and injuries by maintaining safe working environments."

"The safety video has been well formatted and touches on many important discussion points, the most important of which is complacency," declared Dinesh Bafna, owner of Mont Granite. "I highly recommend that every stone distributor design a complete safety training program around it."

"This is the most comprehensive slab safety program of all time," said Jim Nikolopoulos of Walker Zanger.

"I highly recommend that anyone wanting a preview of this outstanding program, view the emotional opening section at www.marble-institute.com/education/employee-safety-initiatives," said Dal-Tile's Chad Vadnais.

MIA members can purchase "Safe Stone Slab Handling II" for $199.00. The non-member price is $299. For more information, contact MIA at (440) 250-9222, e-mail MIAinfo@marble-institute.com, or online at http://store.marble-institute.com/. A Spanish version will be available in early spring 2011.

About the Marble Institute of America
For over 65 years the Marble Institute of America (MIA) has been the world's leading information resource and advocate for the natural dimension stone industry. MIA members include marble, granite, limestone, sandstone, and other natural stone producers and quarriers, fabricators, installers, distributors, and contractors around the world.