Marble Institute of America: Press Room

January 2007

Marble Institute Offers New Safety Technical Guide

CLEVELAND, OH, January 12, 2007—As part of its three-year-old safety initiative, the Marble Institute has developed Safety in the Stone Business, a new technical guide that features a wide range of information on safety issues in the natural stone industry.

"The new publication is an important source of guidelines on safety procedures for personal protective equipment, respiratory protection, hazard communication, equipment operations, slab handling, OSHA compliance and much more," said Jim Hieb, director of special projects for the 1800-member trade association. "The guide builds on a string of other safety initiatives developed by MIA over the past three year. The key to this publication is that it incorporates the content of the four MIA safety videos so that employers can utilize a hardcopy training tool that compliments the videos," Hieb said.

Potential uses for the new guide include: making it an integral part of each employee's orientation packet; using individual sections for a series of toolbox talks; and conducting training for office employees on safety protocol when they and their clients enter a distribution and/or fabrication facility.

"The entire package of safety tools now available from the Marble Institute can really help stone companies maximize their safety outreach to employees," he added. In 2007, the Marble Institute also plans to introduce a new management tool kit featuring safety meeting outlines.

Copies of Safety in the Stone Business are available to MIA members for $11.00 each (Retail price is $16.00) and can be ordered on the MIA web site at www.marble-institute.com or by calling MIA at 440-250-9222. Volume discounts are available for larger orders.

About the Marble Institute of America
For over 60 years the Marble Institute of America (MIA) has been the world's leading information resource and advocate for the natural dimension stone industry. MIA members include marble, granite, limestone, sandstone, and other natural stone producers and quarriers, fabricators, installers, distributors, and contractors around the world.