Gramar Stone Center, Inc. Downplayed the Risks of Producing Artificial Stone Products

Gramar Stone Center, Inc., established in 2001 and based in Anaheim, California, has positioned itself as a leading wholesaler of natural and artificial stone products in the U.S. Despite its wide selection and international sourcing, the company’s approach to consumer and worker safety, specifically regarding its artificial stone products like quartz, raises significant concerns.

Gramar’s 2021 Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for its “Quartz” products is a case in point. The document misleadingly categorizes these artificial stone products as “naturally occurring minerals,” ignoring the significant health hazards posed by the respirable crystalline silica dust generated during fabrication. This dust is known to cause severe diseases such as silicosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and lung cancer when inhaled by workers. The assertion that the finished products are non-hazardous is not only false but dangerously misleading, as the stone slabs require further processing before installation, during which harmful dust is inevitably produced.

The handling and storage section of the MSDS inadequately addresses the necessity of respiratory protection. It suggests that such protection might not be required if “effective engineering controls” are in place. This advice is dangerously misleading, as the toxic nature of the dust generated from these products necessitates respiratory protection regardless of other controls.

Furthermore, the recommendation for respiratory protection in the MSDS is alarmingly insufficient. It suggests that a “properly fitted NIOSH/MSHA approved particulate respirator” may be used when cutting or installing these products. This advice grossly underestimates the protection required to prevent silicosis and other lung diseases caused by the ultrafine particles of crystalline silica in artificial stone dust. Only NIOSH-approved air-supplied respirators can offer adequate protection, yet Gramar’s MSDS fails to make this clear, putting workers at grave risk.

The toxicological information section of the MSDS is equally troubling. It downplays the risk of acute effects from exposure to these products, erroneously suggesting that only “very rare cases” of acute silicosis might occur from “extremely dusty environments.” This statement is misleading and minimizes the well-documented risks of silicosis and other serious health conditions associated with regular exposure to crystalline silica dust, even in less extreme conditions.

Moreover, the regulatory information provided in the MSDS is misleading and potentially harmful. It refers to the products as “natural stone tile” and lists toxic metals that are not disclosed in the composition section of the document. If these toxic metals are indeed present, the lack of adequate safety instructions poses a severe risk to workers, especially considering the deadly lung diseases associated with some of these elements, like beryllium.

The failure of Gramar Stone Center to provide accurate, comprehensive, and clear safety information in its MSDS is a glaring indication of the company’s disregard for the health and safety of workers who handle its products. The misleading statements and inadequate safety instructions not only undermine worker safety but also reflect a broader issue of transparency and accountability in the industry.

Andrea Pier Paolo Francini, the CEO and key decision-maker of Gramar Stone Center, bears responsibility for these failings. Under his leadership, the company has failed to fulfill its duty to ensure that its products can be used safely, without putting workers at risk of life-threatening diseases. The case of Gramar Stone Center serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for stricter regulations and oversight in the stone product industry to protect the health and safety of workers.