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California STOP Act: The July 1 Attestation Deadline, Explained

What California Stone Shops Must File

Author

Silica Free News Staff
June 26, 2026

California's STOP Act required fabrication shops to complete silica safety training before filing an annual attestation with Cal/OSHA. The July 1 deadline is now days away. Here's what the filing requires, who must submit it, and what happens if your shop doesn't.

The compliance deadline is July 1.
Senate Bill 20—officially recognized as California's Silicosis Training, Outreach, and Prevention (STOP) Act—mandates that all employers operating in the stone fabrication industry submit annual training attestations to the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) by that date1.

This legislative action represents the state's most aggressive and comprehensive regulatory response to an escalating occupational health crisis2. The industry has seen a devastating spike in accelerated silicosis cases, driven largely by the surging popularity of artificial (engineered) stone, which contains up to 95% crystalline silica compared to the roughly 30% found in natural granite2.

The ultra-fine, nanometric dust generated during the fabrication of these materials easily overwhelms traditional safety measures, leading to progressive, incurable lung disease that has disproportionately affected young, immigrant workers, resulting in a median age of death of just 46 years7.

To ensure the workforce is adequately protected from this uniquely toxic material, the STOP Act reclassifies silica-related illnesses as serious occupational injuries and institutes an immediate, uncompromising ban on all dry-cutting methods2.

The July 1 attestation serves as a pivotal compliance mechanism designed to verify that fabrication shops are actively educating their employees on these severe health hazards and the strict safety protocols now required under California law1.

By formally submitting this documentation, employers explicitly demonstrate their adherence to these life-saving regulatory standards, signaling a structural shift in how the state monitors and enforces workplace safety within the stone fabrication sector1.

What the STOP Act Actually Requires of Fabrication Shops

Which Employers Must File the Attestation

The attestation requirement applies universally to all owners and operators of stone slab fabrication shops, as well as any business or individual that employs workers to perform "high-exposure trigger tasks"3. These trigger tasks encompass a broad range of activities, including machining, crushing, cutting, drilling, abrading, grinding, chiseling, polishing, or cleaning up the dust and debris associated with these operations2.

The regulations explicitly target any operations involving artificial stone containing more than 0.1% crystalline silica, as well as natural stone materials containing more than 10% crystalline silica2.

Required Training Topics: What Employees Must Learn Before You File

Employers cannot simply submit the attestation document; they must first ensure that a comprehensive safety training curriculum has been successfully delivered to all affected employees1.

Training must be accessible, provided in a language the employees fully understand, and comprehensively address the safety topics mandated by Title 8, Section 5204 of the California Code of Regulations1. The curriculum requires detailed instruction on several core operational and health areas to ensure workers recognize both the invisible hazards of the dust and the engineering controls required to mitigate them.

Training Category

Required Topics Covered

Health Hazards

The incurable and progressive nature of silicosis; recognizing early symptoms such as chronic cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath; increased risks of lung cancer, kidney disease, and tuberculosis6.

Task Identification

Identifying which specific high-exposure trigger tasks generate respirable crystalline silica dust within the facility, and understanding the extreme toxicity of artificial stone compared to natural materials7.

Engineering Controls

The strict prohibition of dry methods; proper implementation of continuous wet methods; verification of mandatory water flow rates, such as the required 2.0 Gallons Per Minute (GPM) for CNC machines and bridge saws6.

Respiratory Protection

The mandatory use of full-face, tight-fitting Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) with an Assigned Protection Factor (APF) of 1000; proper donning, doffing, seal checks, and battery maintenance; prohibition of standard N95 masks for high-exposure tasks10.

Housekeeping & Hygiene

The absolute ban on dry sweeping and compressed air cleaning; the required use of HEPA-filtered vacuums and wet mopping; procedures to prevent take-home silica exposures on clothing and skin10.

What You're Legally Certifying When You Sign the Attestation

In practical regulatory terms, an attestation is a formal, legally binding declaration submitted to the state1. It requires the employer to officially sign off—confirming that the mandated silica safety training was fully delivered to, and comprehended by, every single employee engaged in high-exposure tasks1.

This mechanism fundamentally shifts the burden of proof entirely onto the employer. It is not merely an internal record-keeping exercise; it actively certifies to Cal/OSHA that the fabrication shop is operating in full compliance with the STOP Act's educational requirements1. Submitting false attestations is explicitly unlawful and exposes the business to severe civil penalties and heightened legal liability3.

How to Submit the STOP Act Attestation to Cal/OSHA

Impacted employers are required to submit the written attestation electronically directly to Cal/OSHA1. State agencies, including the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and Cal/OSHA, are currently finalizing the exact electronic portal infrastructure and the formal state-approved training curriculum2.

Once operational, these electronic submissions will be managed by the Enforcement Statistics and Information Management Unit (ESIMU), a specialized division responsible for logging attestation records, tracking compliance deadlines, and immediately routing missing documentation alerts to district enforcement offices21.

Employers must closely monitor communications from the DIR to access the finalized electronic filing system and ensure their paperwork is successfully transmitted ahead of the July 1 deadline2.

Penalties for Missing the July 1 Attestation Deadline

Failing to file the attestation, or operating without completing the required training, carries immediate, severe, and potentially business-ending consequences3. Because SB 20 legally reclassifies silicosis as a "serious injury or illness," Cal/OSHA is mandated to enforce the silica standard with an aggressive, zero-tolerance policy2.

The legislation provides inspectors with expanded authority to halt operations on the spot if gross non-compliance is observed.

Enforcement Action

Trigger / Context

Consequence

Order Prohibiting Use (OPU)

Observation of dry-cutting, compressed air usage, or failure to produce valid training and attestation records2.

Immediate halt of machinery or total shutdown of shop operations until hazards are fully abated and verified2.

Serious Violation Fines

Failure to implement mandatory wet methods, utilize correct PAPR respirators, or submit required safety attestations3.

Financial penalties of up to $25,000 per serious infraction2.

Repeat Offense Fines

Continued non-compliance or failure to rectify citations identified during previous Cal/OSHA inspections2.

Escalating financial penalties reaching up to $162,0002.

Furthermore, the failure to train employees and file the required attestation creates a rebuttable presumption of a serious violation if an employee subsequently develops a silica-related illness3. This provision significantly expands the employer's liability in both regulatory enforcement actions and subsequent workers' compensation claims, making administrative compliance just as critical as physical safety measures3.

What Distributors and Architects Need to Know About SB 20

While the immediate July 1 training attestation mandate applies explicitly to stone fabrication employers, the STOP Act initiates a broader regulatory sequence that will fundamentally alter the entire engineered stone supply chain over the next year2.

  • Beginning July 1, 2027, the state will launch a mandatory three-year certification program for all active fabrication shops2.

  • Once this program takes effect, materials suppliers and distributors will be legally prohibited from selling stone slabs directly to any uncertified shop, and architects or general contractors must formally verify a fabricator's active certification status before contracting their services2.

  • A public database of certified shops will be established by the state to facilitate this due diligence20.

  • Professionals operating in the distribution, design, and construction sectors who require detailed guidance on these impending supply chain restrictions and liability shifts should proceed to the dedicated article on vendor and supplier compliance under SB 20.

Disclaimer: Silica Free News is an independent publication covering silica-free and low-silica surface materials for distributors, architects, interior designers, and other industry professionals in the United States and Canada. Our content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, regulatory, technical, engineering, health and safety, or professional specification advice.

Although we make reasonable efforts to provide accurate and current information, product specifications, compositions, certifications, availability, and regulatory requirements may change. Readers should verify all material information directly with the manufacturer and consult the applicable legal, regulatory, or governmental authority before specifying, purchasing, fabricating, or installing any product.

OSHA Silica Regulations 2026: The Complete Compliance Guide for Stone Fabricators

Cal/OSHA's permanent silica standard requires mandatory PAPRs and zero dry cutting. OSHA's federal PEL is 50 μg/m³. California goes further — and the July 1 attestation deadline is now in effect. Complete compliance checklist for stone fabricators.

Silica Free News • Silica Free News Staff

Sources

  1. California's silicosis prevention law now in effect - JJ Keller, https://www.jjkeller.com/news/article/California-s-silicosis-prevention-law-now-in-effect_id-0691ae79-9c1b-4d71-9f98-4bc241f3dce0

  2. California's STOP Act Sets Strictest Silica Rules in U.S. for Stone Fabricators, https://www.stoneworld.com/articles/95545-californias-stop-act-sets-strictest-silica-rules-in-us-for-stone-fabricators

  3. California Adopts New Standards for Artificial Stone Fabrication - Vensure, https://vensure.com/employment-law-updates/california/california-adopts-new-standards-for-artificial-stone-fabrication/

  4. Now in effect: California's new silicosis prevention law - Safety+Health Magazine, https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/27806-now-in-effect-californias-new-silicosis-prevention-law/

  5. SB 20- Silicosis Training, Outreach, and Prevention (STOP) Act Heads to Governor Newsom, https://sd20.senate.ca.gov/news/sb-20-silicosis-training-outreach-and-prevention-stop-act-heads-governor-newsom

  6. Silicosis and the STOP Act: A 2026 Guide for Artificial Stone Workers - ODG Law Group, https://www.odglawgroup.com/silicosis-and-the-stop-act-a-2026-guide-for-artificial-stone-workers/

  7. Gov. Newsom Signs STOP Act to Protect Artificial Stone Workers from Silicosis - The San Fernando Valley Sun, https://sanfernandosun.com/2025/10/15/gov-newsom-signs-stop-act-to-protect-artificial-stone-workers-from-silicosis/

  8. Renewed National Attention Ignites Over Silicosis Epidemic - Stone World, https://www.stoneworld.com/articles/95557-renewed-national-attention-ignites-over-silicosis-epidemic

  9. California Silicosis Dashboard Tracks 562 Cases in 7 Years - Environment+Energy Leader, https://www.environmentenergyleader.com/stories/california-silicosis-dashboard-tracks-562-cases-in-7-years,127279

  10. California's 2026 Silica Standard: What It Means for Architects and Distributors, https://silicafreenews.com/p/california-s-2026-silica-standard-what-stone-fabricators-must-know

  11. Bill tracking in California - SB 20 (2025-2026 legislative session) - FastDemocracy, https://fastdemocracy.com/bill-search/ca/2025-2026/bills/CAB00033427/

  12. Bill Text: CA SB20 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | Amended - LegiScan, https://legiscan.com/CA/text/SB20/id/3267229

  13. California Code of Regulations, Title 8, 5204. Occupational Exposures to Respirable Crystalline Silica., https://www.dir.ca.gov/title8/5204.html

  14. 5204. Occupational Exposures to Respirable Crystalline Silica. - California Department of Industrial Relations, https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/doshreg/Silica/Updated-draft-language-v2.pdf

  15. Silica Exposure and Cal/OSHA's Silica Emergency Rule - Forensic Analytical Consulting Services, Inc., https://facs.com/blog/silica-exposure-and-cal-oshas-silica-emergency-rule/

  16. Silica Hazards in General Industry – Information for Workers, https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/dosh_publications/Silica-Hazards-GI-Worker-Info.pdf

  17. California STOP Act targets state's fabricated stone industry - JJ Keller, https://www.jjkeller.com/news/article/California-STOP-Act-targets-state-s-fabricated-stone-industry_id-55dbb0ad-685c-4a21-e4e1-f6d4d825c297

  18. Stone Worker Silica Safety Guide — Cal/OSHA STOP Act 2026 - Apex Granite Outlet, https://www.apexgraniteoutlet.com/pages/stone-worker-safety

  19. SB 20 - Amazon S3, https://s3.amazonaws.com/fn-document-service/file-by-sha384/657eafa8abe74f9e19ff16f923507c846e939347e42a815e8c762b3bb476e7c5a8338b3d922a250b0f22e6f1db158643

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  21. DUTY STATEMENT - CalCareers, https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/FileDownload.aspx?aid=31498964&name=ESIMUOfficeAssistant(General)DS-F1-14028HRAppvd.pdf

  22. Cal/OSHA Enforcement of Silica Standards - City of Los Angeles, https://ens.lacity.org/clk/commissionagend/clkcommissionagend3412188082_04142025.pdf

  23. Petition to Revise 8 CCR § 5204 (Occupational Exposures to Respirable Crystalline Silica) to prohibit all fabrication and i - California Department of Industrial Relations, https://www.dir.ca.gov/oshsb/documents/petition-609.pdf