/PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Brayton Purcell LLP today announced the launch of the episode 13 from his podcast series, From Dust to Verdicttitled “WOEMA vs. Artificial Stone Slab Manufacturers”. The episode documents and analyzes the March 19, 2026 Cal/OSHA Standards Board hearing on a petition filed by the Western Occupational and Environmental Medicine Association (WOEMA) specifically requesting a ban on engineered stone containing more than 1% crystalline silica. The petition comes as a direct response to the engineered stone silicosis epidemic currently taking place in countertop manufacturing stores across the state.
In episode 13 of From Dust to Verdict, host James Nevin of Brayton Purcell LLP offers a detailed, unflinching examination of the March 19, 2026 Cal/OSHA Standards Board hearing on engineered stone and silicosis.
The episode focuses on testimony presented by occupational medicine physicians, nurses, worker advocates, and Cal/OSHA medical leaders regarding engineered stone manufacturing and its association with accelerated silicosis, a progressive lung disease that affects countertop manufacturing workers. Crystalline silica artificial stone, also known as engineered, artificial or manufactured stone, is at least 90% silica, with nano-sized silica particles and approximately 10% additional metals, glues, resins and toxic dyes, which are released along with manufacturing activities of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as cutting, grinding, polishing and drilling.
During the hearing, the Dr. Robert Blinkan occupational medicine physician and former member of the Cal/OSHA Standards Board, described the medical consequences of silica exposure in clear terms. “Inhale silica, it will stay with you for the rest of your life.” Dr. Blink told the board of directors. He further explained: “Silicosis is not curable. Once you have it, you will have it for the rest of your life “.
Episode 13 also includes comments from James Nevinpartner at Brayton Purcell LLP and host of From Dust to Verdictwhich reflects on the statements made during the hearing. Addressing positions presented by industry representatives, Nevin stated during the podcast: “Even in the face of overwhelming evidence, Board President Alioto chooses to ignore the evidence and wrongly claims that a significant scientific debate exists. To be clear, the only voices of debate come from the domestic and foreign slab manufacturer lobbyists.”
Nevin further discussed the enforcement-focused proposals raised at the hearing, stating: “Finally, fully adopting the artificial stone slab manufacturer’s lobbyist’s position that only a few criminal dry cutters need to be arrested to stop this epidemic, President Alioto boasted of his ill-conceived letter to several California county district attorneys.”
Addressing foreign slab manufacturers and Minnesota-based Cambria, he added: “If it is supposedly the fault of these criminal manufacturing shops, there is an easy solution: stop selling your slabs to them, you know exactly who they are. You don’t need Cal/OSHA to put your customers in jail, just stop selling them your poison!“
In addition to medical and legal testimony, the episode features the perspectives of worker advocates who addressed the lived experiences of manufacturing workers. Meegan Ortizexecutive director of IDEPSCA, described the disconnect she observed between workers’ experiences and industry messages. “It feels like a bit of gaslighting to hear that silicosis is not the epidemic that it is,” Ortiz told the Board. He also relayed comments from the workers themselves, stating: “Workers told us last year…if everyone knew this product was so dangerous, why were we still allowed to work with it?“
The hearing also included statements from artificial stone slab manufacturers and industry representatives, who discussed compliance-based approaches and disputed whether artificial stone poses different risks than other silica-containing materials. ‑Episode 13 captures these different points of view and places them in context along with the medical testimony presented.
Throughout the episode, From Dust to Verdict documents the public record of the hearing and provides context informed by the experience of Brayton Purcell LLP representing hundreds of engineered stone manufacturing workers across the United States diagnosed with silicosis.
From the polvo to the truth: Episode 13 – “WOEMA vs. Foreign Slab Manufacturers” It is now available on the main podcast platforms.
You can watch the full episode here- From dust to verdict- Episode 13
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Brayton Purcell LLP is a nationally recognized law firm with an extensive practice representing people with serious occupational lung diseases, including silicosis.
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