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STONEVILLE USA Failed to Provide Accurate Safety Information About Their Products

Stoneville USA, Inc., established in 2006 in California, has become a prominent player in the distribution of a wide array of natural and engineered stone products in Southern California. Despite its vast offerings, including notable brands like Caesarstone, Cambria, and Silestone, Stoneville's approach to disclosing the health risks associated with its products, particularly those containing high concentrations of crystalline silica, raises serious concerns.

In its Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for Quartz, dated March 11, 2021, Stoneville claims its quartz products, which encompass a variety of engineered stone materials, are environmentally friendly and pose "no immediate hazard to health." This assertion is not only misleading but dangerously dismissive of the well-documented risks associated with crystalline silica, a known carcinogen and the primary cause of silicosis, a fatal lung disease.

The SDS's Hazards Identification section further downplays these risks by stating that the engineered stone products are "odorless, stable, non-flammable," and may only require respiratory, hand, and eye protection "if dust is produced by cutting product during installation or by any other operations." This vague language dangerously underestimates the health risks inherent in the fabrication and installation processes of these products, which invariably generate respirable silica dust.

Most alarming is the absence of any mention of silicosis in the Hazards Identification section of the SDS. Silicosis is the most significant health hazard associated with crystalline silica exposure, yet Stoneville's safety documentation fails to adequately warn of this risk. Instead, the SDS includes generic precautionary statements like "Do not breathe dust/spray," without acknowledging the necessity of using air-supplied respirators during fabrication to prevent silicosis effectively.

The SDS's recommendation to use a "properly fitted NIOSH/MSHA approved particulate respirator" is grossly inadequate for protecting workers from the dangers of silica dust. Particulate respirators are not sufficient to prevent silicosis, which requires the use of air-supplied respirators, a critical piece of information conspicuously absent from Stoneville's safety recommendations.

Moreover, the SDS misleadingly states that the quartz products "do not release hazardous materials after installation and are not considered hazardous waste should disposal be necessary." This statement ignores the reality that the most significant exposure to hazardous silica dust occurs during the cutting, grinding, and polishing processes necessary to fabricate and install these products.

Stoneville's failure to provide clear, accurate, and comprehensive safety information not only contravenes regulatory standards designed to protect workers but also demonstrates a disturbing disregard for the health and well-being of those who work with its products. By omitting crucial information about the risks of silica exposure and the necessary precautions to prevent silicosis, Stoneville endangers workers and undermines public health efforts to combat occupational lung diseases.
In conclusion, while Stoneville USA, Inc. may offer a wide range of high-quality stone products, its approach to worker safety and hazard communication is critically flawed. The company must urgently revise its Safety Data Sheets to include accurate, clear, and comprehensive warnings about the risks of crystalline silica exposure and the necessary protective measures, including the use of air-supplied respirators, to safeguard the health of all workers involved in the fabrication and installation of its products.