Become a Master of Stone with Caesarstone

Caesarstone as expanded its partnership with the International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA) by offering its Master of Stone training free to ISFA members.

The renewed relationship will help the manufacturer continue its commitment to leading the industry in health and safety standards as IFSA recommends its members take full advantage of Caesarstone’s Master of Stone training platform, a one-of-a-kind training designed to address health and safety issues, including silica dust, in the workplace.

“Fabricators are a vital part of Caesarstone’s success, so joining ISFA in their work to help members succeed makes good business sense, but it also goes beyond that,” said Elizabeth Margles, vice president of marketing for Caesarstone North America. “It’s about working together to increase the entire industry’s understanding of how to protect all fabricators from the health and safety risks posed in the industry and to strengthen its future.”

The free Master of Stone training, launched last year, is a short series of online modules that provides a certificate upon completion. The website also offers additional helpful resources, including a safety data sheet and a 48-page updated version of the Good Practice Guide. The Good Practice Guide covers safety measures relating to occupational health and safety in a respirable crystalline silica dust (RCS) environment, including monitoring airborne dust, reducing RCS particles, personal protective equipment recommendations, cleaning and maintenance, hygiene, and other procedures.

Crystalline silica commonly occurs in nature as the mineral quartz, and it is found in granite, sandstone, quartzite and other rocks and sand. It is comprised of two chemical elements: silicon and oxygen. It is a component of many manufactured products in daily use such as glass, pottery and quartz surfaces as well as construction materials such as bricks, blocks, tiles, slabs, cement, ceramic and concrete.

The RCS dust created by the fabrication and manufacturing processes is hazardous, and it must be taken seriously. RCS particles are tiny enough to enter the lungs which can cause irreparable damage and can result in silicosis, an incurable, progressively disabling and sometimes fatal lung disease. Unprotected workers are also at risk for lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), kidney disease, and auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (according to certain schools of thought).

However, these diseases are 100 percent preventable, provided use of appropriate personal protective equipment and with the correct safety measures in place.

More than 600 fabricators in Canada and the United States have already earned their Master of Stone certificates.

“We hope every ISFA member will take Caesarstone’s Master of Stone training modules and provide access to all applicable employees so the best practices shared within the training platform become the industry standard across the globe,” said Margles.

For more information, visit mos.caesarstoneus.com.