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PLANTATION, FL -- Classic Marble Restoration, Inc. (CMR), a leading marble restoration company in south Florida, recently completed the 10-hour 1915 OSHA/GHS-SDS training program. CMR's owners and employees are not only experts in the field of hard surface cleaning, polishing and restoration, but now have also passed a 10-hour Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) training course that focuses on the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of the classifying and labeling of chemicals and safety data sheets (SDS).

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is extending the public comment period for an additional 47 days on the notice of proposed rulemaking on occupational exposure to crystalline silica.

As an industry trade magazine, I believe that one of the most important things that Stone World can do to benefit the trade is to promote workplace safety.

On page 46 of this issue, you will find an article that — in just over 2,000 words — articulates exactly why OSHA is misguided in how it regulates the stone industry.

In a statement on August 23, 2013, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued notice that they intend to reduce the current silica dust exposure rate by 50%.

On August 23, 2013, OSHA released its proposed silica rule -- cutting the exposure limit formula in half -- and a 90-day comment period has been established.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Venetian Marble & Granite of Helotes, TX, with 10 serious safety and health violations after an inspection found that workers were exposed to unsafe levels of crystalline silica particles. Proposed penalties total $41,300.