Fabricator Safety Initiative

2026 Path to Licensing

How It Started

For nearly a year, ISFA has been building a clear, unified path to federal licensing that protects fabrication workers and the shops that employ them. Since our membership approved a three-year strategic plan in November 2025, we have presented licensing frameworks to manufacturers, distributors, and the Cal/OSHA advisory board; navigated a fast-moving California regulatory landscape—including a vote to grant Petition 609 and begin emergency rulemaking; worked to amend federal legislation to protect workers with silicosis; grown our fabrication-shop membership; launched a Workers' Voice campaign; and partnered with legal and policy experts to develop the Fabricator Safety and Compliance Fund proposal.

Our goal throughout has been product-agnostic licensing that removes revenue-driven agendas and focuses squarely on protecting workers, regardless of the materials a shop fabricates or the revenue it earns. To finish the job, we must raise the remaining $700,000 of our 2026 goal—funds that will place experienced advocates in Sacramento and Washington, defend shops and employees under attack, support our staff and outreach, and ensure the Compliance Fund is built to strengthen the industry rather than burden it. These dollars are not tax-deductible because they fund direct lobbying on the industry's behalf, and we invite every stakeholder who benefits from a fair, unified path forward to stand with us and help close the gap.

Support the Fabricator Safety Initiative

Help protect fabrication shops and workers through federal advocacy and licensing.

Progress Through Action

Building the Path to Federal Licensing

Since ISFA members approved a path to federal licensing in November 2025, the association has worked to build industry alignment, respond to emerging regulatory challenges, strengthen worker protections, and establish a product-agnostic licensing framework. The timeline below outlines the major decisions, developments, and partnerships that have brought the initiative to where it stands today.

Timeline of ISFA's Path to Federal Licensing

The milestones below outline the decisions, regulatory developments, partnerships, and advocacy efforts that have shaped ISFA's path toward a unified federal licensing framework for fabrication shops.

November 2025

November 6, 2025

ISFA's membership approved a three-year strategic plan that included a path to federal licensing.

November 18, 2025

WOEMA filed a petition with the voluntary Cal/OSHA standards board to ban fabrication products with higher silica content.

December 2025

December 16, 2025

ISFA's volunteer Board of Directors approved an update to our 2026 initiatives, including a licensing framework designed to raise $2.7M in 2026: $1M to fund ISFA's 2026 initiatives and an additional $1.7M to launch the path to licensing. The Board directed the Finance and Governance Committee to monitor progress closely and adapt as needed.

January 2026

January 8, 2026

ISFA presented a proposed licensing framework to industry manufacturers and distributors, noting it would require an industry commitment to raise and fund $2.7M. Participants agreed licensing is needed and made personal commitments to help raise the funds to support ISFA.

January 15, 2026

ISFA presented a co-regulated licensing framework to the Cal/OSHA advisory board—an industry-led approach designed to support, not hinder, California's efforts.

February–March 2026

An additional petition and a new California assembly bill were filed, creating fresh licensing challenges. ISFA began hiring additional staff to support the path to licensing.

March 31, 2026

ISFA did not post the planned licensing standard for the industry-feedback process. While $1M had been raised, an additional $1.7M was still needed, further fabricator alignment was required, and California legislative activity had unintentionally created confusion for the industry and stakeholders in the state.

April 2026

ISFA reported growth in fabrication-shop membership and launched a Workers' Voice campaign in California, along with wallet cards that verify completion of ISFA's silica-awareness course, offered in both English and Spanish.

May 2026

May 13, 2026

The Board of Directors approved a new strategy for federal licensing, including an amendment to HR 5437 to protect fabrication shops and workers with silicosis who are not covered by workers' compensation.

May 21, 2026

The Cal/OSHA voluntary advisory board voted 3–0 to grant Petition 609 and begin emergency rulemaking. Key points:

Rulemaking could prohibit the fabrication and installation of engineered stone above 1% crystalline silica.
Two advisory committees will be convened: Science and Standard.
Legal challenges are anticipated; Loper Bright exposure was flagged by the Chair.
ISFA requested the opportunity to serve on both committees.

May 2026

ISFA partnered with Stinson to support the licensing of fabrication shops. This marked a pivot from the industry-led, consensus-building model presented in California toward support for third-party auditing for existing laws to be enforced. ISFA presented—and continues to present—the Fabricator Safety and Compliance Fund to support industry reform.

June 2026

ISFA monitored activity in Washington, D.C. to determine the best path to gaining approval of the Fabricator Safety and Compliance Fund, while continuing to build fabricator unity behind product-agnostic licensing that protects workers, supports fabrication shops, and educates them on their responsibilities.

July 2026

ISFA met with like-minded nonprofit and for-profit entities to support ISFA, ACMC, and the path to federal licensing. The shared message: remove revenue-driven agendas and focus on protecting workers—regardless of whether a shop fabricates engineered or natural materials, or how much revenue it makes. The goal of licensing is to remove the biases that keep the industry from supporting it.

The Foundation Has Been Built. Now We Must Finish the Job.

We are $700,000 away from fully funding ISFA's path to federal licensing in 2026—and the stakes have never been higher. Fabrication shops and the workers inside them are being targeted through legislation, regulation, and social media campaigns. Without a strong, unified industry response, decisions about your business will be made for you, without you.

Your contribution changes that. It puts experienced advocates in the room in Sacramento and Washington, protects shops and employees who are under attack right now, and builds a durable framework that safeguards workers and the businesses that employ them.

What Your Dollars Fund

Every dollar goes directly toward protecting the industry and driving federal licensing forward:

California legal representation: An attorney to defend the interests of all fabrication shops and the employees being unfairly targeted through social media and other tactics, plus additional work to protect the broader industry.
Federal advocacy in Washington, D.C.: A federal lobbyist and attorney to represent all fabrication shops in Washington and drive federal licensing across the finish line.
The people doing the work: Allocated salary and travel for our CEO and our Safety, Health, and Regulatory Compliance Director, plus marketing to build awareness and industry support.
A fund built the right way: Professionals—including actuaries, insurance brokers, and company-development oversight—to ensure the Fabricator Safety and Compliance Fund is structured to support the industry, not burden it.

An Honest Note on Your Contribution

These dollars are not tax-deductible because they fund lobbying on your behalf. This is direct, boots-on-the-ground advocacy for your business and your workers. Exact figures will be issued in January 2027 for your records.

The Ask

We've already raised the majority of what we need. This final $700,000 is what turns momentum into results. If your shop benefits from a fair, unified, worker-protecting path to licensing, now is the moment to stand with the industry that's standing up for you.

Commit your support today—and help us close the gap.

Ready to Stand with ISFA and Support the Initiative?

The work has begun. The momentum is real. Now we need your help to finish what we've started.

Support the Initiative

Have questions or would like to discuss how you can help?