The San Fernando Valley is the epicenter of silicosis cases in California – a fatal long-term lung disease caused by breathing in silica dust, a mineral found in certain stones, rocks, sand and clay.
Last week, Assemblywoman Luz Rivas put a hold on Assembly Bill (AB) 3043, the Silicosis Prevention Act – legislation she introduced to protect manufactured stone fabrication workers from contracting silicosis.
“I want to be clear – Latino workers are not expendable,” said Rivas in a statement. “While community outreach to educate employees on their rights is important, it is insufficient as the sole mechanism to safeguard workers from contracting silicosis where they are most likely to contract it – their work.”
Stone fabrication shops often produce artificial stone countertops, a cheaper option with a much higher silica concentration – up to 95% silica as compared to granite (50%) and natural stone (2%). Workers who cut, grind and polish the artificial slabs are at a high risk of contracting silicosis.
Inhaling silica dust causes lung inflammation and scarring, which can lead to severe lung disease and even death.
“Essentially, it causes suffocation over time,” said Dr. Jane Fazio, pulmonary and critical care physician at Olive View UCLA Medical Center in Sylmar, in a previous interview with the San Fernando Valley Sun/el Sol.
Fazio said that there is no effective treatment once someone contracts silicosis. Doctors can offer a lung transplant when it is in an advanced stage, but this is a risky and expensive procedure that only prolongs someone’s life by an average of six years.
“The patients that I care for … are [mostly] Latino immigrant men from Central and South America,” Fazio added.
Over 100 of the approximately 285 fabrication facilities in Los Angeles are located in the East San Fernando Valley industrial areas of Pacoima, Sun Valley, San Fernando and Van Nuys – an area that Rivas represents.
AB 3043 would have required the state to create a public website to track stone fabrication shops’ compliance with updated state regulations, prohibit dry cutting of manufactured stones, establish a licensure system for fabrication shops and require workers to be trained on proper protection and safety protocols.
“Through the creation of a tracking system, we sought to ensure compliance with recently promulgated regulations from the Department of Industrial Relations,” said Rivas. “However, following multiple efforts to work with our state regulators, it is clear that they are not receptive to creating a tracking system to identify licensed fabrication shops purchasing products from stone manufacturers and distributors that would protect these workers.”
Despite the bureaucratic pushback from state regulators that appears to have caused Rivas to hold the act, she said this would not deter her from continuing to battle for stricter regulations, accountability and protections for workers.
“I have made the tough decision to pull my bill so that future legislators can continue to monitor the effectiveness of these regulations,” said Rivas. “I will personally work with federal, state and local offices to guarantee that any future permanent regulations are the toughest possible to protect the health and safety of our workers.”
With Rivas leaving her Assembly seat at the end of the year in pursuit of the District 29 Congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Tony Cárdenas, it is unclear what potential legislation she would attempt to work toward at the federal level.