Silicosis Training
The Natural Stone Institute offers comprehensive safety training designed specifically for professionals in the natural stone industry. The Silica & Slab Safety Certificate provides practical education on preventing silicosis, implementing safe slab handling procedures, and developing an effective workplace safety program.
In addition to the online certificate, concise guidance documents and course are available to serve as quick-reference tools—helping employers and safety managers focus on the most critical elements of silica compliance and worker protection.
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Silica & Slab Safety Certificate
Includes online training and materials for silicosis, silica safety, slab handling, and implementing a silica exposure control plan. This training certificate must be renewed every two years.
Online Silica Courses
Natural Stone Institute’s Safety Committee has made it possible for every professional in the industry to access crucial safety training free of charge. Here are a few key courses to get you up to speed. These are also part of the more comprehensive training in our Silica & Slab Safety Certificate bundle.
Reference Guides
Respirator Selection Criteria for Respirable Crystalline Silica
Air Purifying Respirator Selection Criteria for Respirable Crystalline Silica in General Industry is a practical guidance document developed in collaboration with researchers in Occupational & Environmental Medicine at Yale University to help stone professionals select and use respirators appropriately to mitigate respirable crystalline silica (RCS) hazards.
• Click here to access this document in Spanish.
NIOSH Respirator Guide
A concise reference from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health explaining how air-purifying respirators work and how they are selected and used to protect workers from airborne hazards. This is useful for safety managers when developing or evaluating respiratory protection programs.
Medical Surveillance Information for Employers
A detailed medical surveillance guidance document assembled by researchers at the Yale School of Medicine that explains OSHA requirements and best practices for establishing silica-related health monitoring. It includes criteria for determining who needs surveillance, typical medical tests, and forms used in OSHA 1910.1053 compliance.
• Click here to access this document in Spanish.
Fabricator Guidance for Workplace Silica Exposure Assessment
A one-page practical guide developed with input from Yale to help fabricators understand the key elements of conducting and planning silica exposure assessments. It outlines when and how to engage qualified sampling services and what information should be provided to ensure meaningful results.
• Click here to access this document in Spanish.
Sampling Firm/Consultant Guidance for Workplace Silica Exposure Assessments
This guidance is designed for industrial hygienists, consultants, or firms conducting silica air monitoring. It summarizes recommended sampling methods, documentation practices, and reporting expectations to support accurate workplace exposure measurement and compliance with OSHA criteria.
• Click here to access this document in Spanish.
Silicosis: An Industry Guide for Awareness and Prevention
This module provides a technical summary of respirable crystalline silica exposure measurements from countertop fabrication and finishing operations. It highlights trends in worker exposures, evaluates the effectiveness of common work practices in reducing silica dust, and explains where engineering controls and respiratory protection are necessary to meet regulatory requirements.
• Click here to access this document in Spanish.
Silica Exposure Control Plan for General Industry
An editable, natural stone industry specific template to help fabrication shops build a written Silica Exposure Control Plan aligned with OSHA’s Respirable Crystalline Silica rule. Includes responsibilities, exposure limits, risk assessment guidance, and a practical action plan covering engineering controls, housekeeping, PPE, training, recordkeeping, and medical surveillance.
• Click here to access this document in Spanish.
Silica & Slab Safety Certificate
Live, in-person trainings are also available throughout the year. Refer to our Calendar of Events for opportunities near you.
Our Commitment to Safety
The Natural Stone Institute is committed to equipping the industry with clear, research-based guidance and practical tools to prevent silicosis and strengthen workplace safety.
Explore the sections below to learn more about:
- Silica & Slab Safety Certificate
- Reference Guides
- In-Person Silica Training & Updates
- OSHA Silica Rule
- Cal/OSHA Silica Standard
- Guidance for Compliance
- Scientific Research on Silica Safety
- Reference Guides Based on Science
- State of Silica Safety
- Regulatory & Legal Updates
- Important Headlines
Safety programming is supported by the members of the NSI Safety Committee:
The Natural Stone Foundation provided a generous grant to fund the 2023 update to the Silica & Slab Safety Certificate.
