Building a Safer Future: Inside the ISFA 2026: Countertop and Surface Fabrication Licensing Standard
The countertop and surface fabrication industry is facing one of the most defining moments in its history.
Over the past several years, cases of silicosis have brought increased regulatory attention, enforcement activity, media scrutiny, and public concern. Fabricators across California and increasingly across the country are operating in an environment where expectations are rising and tolerance for unsafe practices is not tolerated.
The question is no longer whether the industry must respond. The question is how.
The International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA) has stepped forward with a structured, industry-led solution, the ISFA 2026: Countertop and Surface Fabrication Licensing Standard. This framework is designed to strengthen worker protection, support enforcement against negligent employers, and create a clear, measurable definition of what safe fabrication operations look like in practice.
This is not a reactionary program. It is a forward-looking system built to prevent silicosis exposure before it happens.
Why a Licensing Standard Now?
California has seen a sharp increase in confirmed cases of silicosis among workers. Regulators have responded with aggressive enforcement actions and legislative activity. Responsible shop owners, those investing in proper controls, wet cutting, ventilation, training, and oversight are often competing against operators who cut corners.
That imbalance cannot continue. Existing occupational safety regulations already require employers to control silica exposure. But enforcement is often reactive and fines are minimal. Inspections frequently occur after exposure concerns, complaints, or do exposure to illness. Smaller shops may lack structured compliance systems even if they intend to follow the rules.
The ISFA 2026: Countertop and Surface Fabrication Licensing Standard is being developed as a comprehensive framework covering five core areas (all pending final approval of the countertop and surface fabrication industry):
1. Engineering Controls
At the center of silica prevention is control at the source. The licensing standard will include requirements for:
- Wet cutting and water-delivery systems
- Dust suppression methods
- Ventilation and air management systems
- Equipment inspection and maintenance documentation
- Exposure control verification processes
- Engineering controls are not optional add-ons. They are the baseline expectation for safe operations.
2. Administrative Controls
- Designation of a trained “competent person”
- Daily compliance checklists
- Written exposure control plans
- Structured documentation protocols
- Recordkeeping systems that demonstrate ongoing oversight
3. Workforce Training Requirements
Training gaps contribute directly to exposure risks. A trained workforce is the first line of defense against preventable exposure. The licensing framework will require:
- Silica hazard education for all affected workers
- Supervisor and competent person training
- Documented retraining intervals
- Clear tracking of completion
4. Oversight and Accountability
A licensing program must include verification. This structure ensures that licensing is not symbolic. It is measurable.
The standard will establish:
Third-party audits
- A licensing registry
- Renewal requirements
- Corrective action procedures
- Transparent compliance verification mechanisms
5. Alignment with Existing Law
The ISFA 2026: Countertop and Surface Fabrication Licensing Standard structure ensures that licensing is not symbolic. It is measurable and does not replace state or federal regulation.
It is designed to align with existing occupational safety laws and respirable crystalline silica standards. Its purpose is to operationalize compliance, translating regulatory requirements into practical shop-level systems that can be consistently applied and evaluated.
The Petition: What ISFA Is Requesting
ISFA will submit a petition requesting that, once completed by July 31, 2026, the ISFA 2026: Countertop and Surface Fabrication Licensing Standard be reviewed and considered for recognition as an accepted industry benchmark under California’s General Duty Clause framework. The request does not seek to rewrite law. Instead, it asks that the completed licensing standard be evaluated as:
- A recognized benchmark of safe industry practice
- A structured compliance framework
- A tool that may support enforcement against negligent employers
- A preventive mechanism aimed at reducing silica exposure
Recognition would provide regulators with an additional reference point when evaluating employer practices. It would strengthen the clarity of expectations across the industry. And it would create a measurable standard that responsible shops can meet and demonstrate.
How Adoption Could Work
Recognition could occur through guidance, enforcement reference, or advisory acceptance without requiring wholesale statutory changes. The model is designed to work alongside existing oversight, not replace it.
The adoption pathway is structured and transparent:
- Completion of the standard by July 31, 2026
- Public posting and stakeholder engagement
- Open committee participation
- Comment periods and revisions
- Regulatory review and evaluation
Why Industry Participation Matters
A licensing framework must reflect real shop operations. It cannot be theoretical. It cannot be disconnected from fabrication workflow. That is why ISFA is opening the development process to broad participation.
On March 13, ISFA will publish:
- Committee participation instructions
- Draft framework materials
- Public feedback submission guidelines
- Working group timelines
- Stakeholder engagement opportunities
Fabricators, distributors, manufacturers, safety professionals, industrial hygienists, medical experts, regulators, and workforce advocates are all invited to participate. This is an open development process. Transparency is essential to credibility.
A Preventive Approach to Silicosis
Silicosis is irreversible. It is also preventable. The ISFA 2026: Countertop and Surface Fabrication Licensing Standard focuses on prevention through:
- Source control
- Daily oversight
- Structured documentation
- Training accountability
- Third-party verification
Rather than responding after disease develops, the framework aims to reduce exposure before harm occurs. It also creates a structured method to identify negligent operators, those who ignore known hazards or fail to implement basic controls. By defining accepted industry practice, the licensing model strengthens enforcement where needed while protecting responsible businesses from unfair competition.
Raising the Standard Nationwide
Although development is closely aligned with California’s regulatory environment, the long-term vision is national consistency. The licensing framework is designed to be scalable. Once finalized, it can serve as a reference point for other states facing similar challenges. A consistent model reduces confusion across jurisdictions and strengthens the credibility of the industry as a whole.
The industry can either allow outside mandates to shape its future, or it can build a structured, enforceable solution from within. ISFA has chosen the latter.
Moving Forward
The ISFA 2026: Countertop and Surface Fabrication Licensing Standard represents a defining effort to:
- Protect workers
- Support enforcement
- Stop preventable silica exposure
- Raise operational standards
- Strengthen the reputation of fabrication professionals
This is not about product categories. It is not about market share. It is about worker safety and responsible operations.
March 13 marks the beginning of the public participation phase. The countertop and surface fabrication industry now can shape a licensing framework that is practical, enforceable, and built by those who understand fabrication firsthand.
The future of countertop and surface fabrication will be defined by the standards it chooses to set. ISFA is inviting the entire industry to help build them.