Frequently Asked Questions
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About the Program
About ISFA and This Program
Who is ISFA?
The International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association that represents countertop and surface fabrication shops — the businesses that cut, finish, and install stone, quartz, solid surface, porcelain, and other surfaces. ISFA provides safety training, education, and advocacy for fabricators. Its fabricator-only council, the American Countertop Manufacturers Council (ACMC), determines the positions ISFA takes on behalf of fabricators. Learn more at isfanow.org.
What is countertoplicensing.org?
It is ISFA’s public home for the Fabrication Shop Auditor Program, the petition and public comment process, shop registration, audit grant funding, science feedback and our call for medical research.
What is the Fabrication Shop Auditor Program?
The Fabrication Shop Auditor Program provides fabrication shops with an independent third-party review of their workplace safety practices, documentation and fabrication environment. The program is open to fabrication shops across the United States, regardless of ISFA membership.
Is this a license?
No. The Fabrication Shop Auditor Program does not issue a government license or permit. It provides an independent audit of participating fabrication shops. Separately, ISFA has submitted a petition to the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board proposing a fabrication shop licensing framework and Verified Compliance Pathway through a new Section 5204.2.
Does passing an audit protect my shop from regulatory citations or lawsuits?
No. An audit does not limit the authority of applicable regulatory agencies, does not provide immunity from citations or enforcement and is not a legal defense. It documents the shop’s audit results at the time of the review. Ongoing compliance remains the responsibility of the shop.
Why not just ban engineered stone?
That decision belongs to regulators. ISFA’s view is that the law already requires the controls that protect workers, and that the crisis is driven by shops not following it. A ban would not remove natural stone or new high-silica products from the market, and could push work toward unregistered, uninsured shops where exposures are worst. We are asking regulators to consider verified compliance as an alternative — and we are collecting the science so the decision rests on evidence.
Do I have to be an ISFA member?
No. The Fabrication Shop Auditor Program is open to fabrication shops across the United States, regardless of ISFA membership.
Who funds the program, and can funders influence results?
Audit grants are supported by manufacturers, distributors and other industry partners. Each $5,000 grant supports one shop audit, and funders may choose how many audits they wish to support. Funders do not choose which shops receive funding, see individual audit results or influence audit criteria or outcomes.
The Process
The Audit
Why ISO 45001 auditors?
ISO 45001 is the international standard for occupational health and safety management systems. Auditors credentialed as ISO 45001 Lead Auditors are trained to evaluate whether an organization identifies hazards, controls them, trains people, checks its own performance, and fixes problems — exactly the system a shop needs to control silica every day, not just on inspection day.
Using established, independent auditors means (1) the auditor has no stake in the shop or its suppliers, (2) audits follow a recognized professional discipline, and (3) the program can scale nationally without building a new inspection workforce. ISFA has partnered with a network of more than 1,100 ISO 45001 auditors and provides additional silica and fabrication-specific training.
What does the audit check?
The audit reviews workplace safety practices, documentation and conditions within the fabrication environment. Depending on the shop and applicable requirements, the review may include fabrication methods, dust-control practices, respiratory protection, exposure and air-monitoring records, written safety programs, employee training, medical surveillance processes and related recordkeeping.
What happens if my shop doesn't pass?
If your shop does not meet the audit criteria, you will receive information identifying the items that need to be addressed and the next steps for corrective action and verification. The goal is to give participating shops a clear path toward addressing identified issues and completing the audit process.
What does it cost?
Audit grant funding may be available to help eligible fabrication shops cover the cost of an independent audit. Each audit grant is funded at $5,000 per shop. Availability is subject to available grant funding. Any costs associated with correcting issues identified during an audit remain the responsibility of the shop.
I’m a one-person shop. Does this apply to me?
Yes. The Fabrication Shop Auditor Program is open to fabrication shops across the United States, including owner-operated shops. The requirements that apply to a particular shop may vary based on its operations, workforce and applicable laws and regulations.
Why two competent persons?
So someone trained and empowered to stop the work is always on the floor checking dust controls and cleanup, even when one person is off, sick, or on an install.
Worker Health
Materials and Health
Is natural or engineered (artificial) stone safer?
No stone is safe to cut without controls. Any material containing crystalline silica can release respirable dust that causes silicosis when it is cut, ground, or polished.
Engineered stone typically contains much higher crystalline silica (often more than 90%) than most natural stone, and California’s public health surveillance has linked the current epidemic overwhelmingly to engineered stone fabrication. Natural stone varies widely: marble is typically very low, granite commonly ranges lower to moderate, and some quartzites can be as high as engineered stone. Porcelain and sintered stone also contain silica.
That is why ISFA’s approach is product-agnostic: the same controls apply to every material, including new products that enter the market before anyone fully understands them. ISFA does not certify any material as safe, and shops should be careful with “low silica” or “safe stone” marketing claims — check the safety data sheet and follow the law for every slab.
What about “low-silica” or “no-silica” products?
Lower silica content may reduce hazard, but it does not remove it, and there are no national standards yet for testing and certifying silica content in slab products. ISFA is working toward those standards. Until then, treat every slab as hazardous and control the dust.
What is silicosis? Can it be cured?
The medical community says that silicosis is an irreversible lung disease caused by breathing respirable crystalline silica dust. It can progress even after exposure stops. There is currently no approved treatment that reverses it; care focuses on managing symptoms, and some patients need lung transplants. That is why ISFA has issued an open call for medical research.
I’m a worker and worried about my health. What should I do?
Talk to a doctor experienced in occupational lung disease and tell them about the work you do and the materials you work with. Depending on your workplace and applicable requirements, medical surveillance may be available or required. You can also contact the occupational safety and health agency in your state for information about workplace protections and resources. ISFA does not provide medical or legal advice.
Regulation & Policy
Law, Policy, and advocacy
What is happening at Cal/OSHA right now?
In May 2026 the Standards Board granted Petition 609, which asks to prohibit fabrication of engineered stone above 1% crystalline silica, and directed Cal/OSHA to develop emergency and permanent rules. Cal/OSHA’s Emergency Silica Advisory Committee met July 31, 2026, and posted a discussion draft on September 16, 2026, with comments due September 30, 2026. Check the Cal/OSHA website for current status.
Using established, independent auditors means (1) the auditor has no stake in the shop or its suppliers, (2) audits follow a recognized professional discipline, and (3) the program can scale nationally without building a new inspection workforce. ISFA has partnered with a network of more than 1,100 ISO 45001 auditors and provides additional silica and fabrication-specific training.
Is this only for California?
No. The Fabrication Shop Auditor Program is open to fabrication shops across the United States. ISFA’s September 28, 2026 regulatory petition, however, was submitted to the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board and proposes a California fabrication shop licensing and Verified Compliance Pathway.
I’m outside the United States. Does this apply to me?
The Fabrication Shop Auditor Program is currently open to fabrication shops in the United States. Laws and regulatory requirements differ by country. ISFA welcomes science, research and technical feedback from around the world.
Does ISFA Lobby?
Yes. ISFA advocates on issues affecting surface fabricators and the broader fabrication industry. Its advocacy work includes engaging with policymakers, regulators and industry stakeholders on workplace safety, licensing and other issues affecting fabrication businesses and workers.
How does ISFA handle competition and antitrust issues?
ISFA does not discuss or set prices, allocate customers, or coordinate boycotts. Program participation is open on identical terms, and the program does not direct shops to any supplier. See ISFA’s Antitrust Statement.
Your Information
Data & Privacy
How is my information used?
Information submitted through countertoplicensing.org is used to administer the Fabrication Shop Auditor Program, review public comments and submissions, administer audit grant funding and support program reporting. ISFA does not sell personal information. Information is handled in accordance with the program’s Privacy Notice.
Can I submit information in Spanish?
ISFA welcomes submissions in English or Spanish. Additional Spanish-language website resources are being developed.