Manufacturing Program

Overview

About

The Manufacturing Program promotes research findings, practical guidance and technologies to manufacturers, stakeholders, and the public in general. The Program conducts research and provides recommendations to manufacturers on new technologies, including nanomaterials, robotics, wearable sensors, safe equipment design, and operations to prevent injuries to workers.

The manufacturing sector includes establishments engaged in the mechanical, physical, or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products under NAICS codes 31-33.

There are 21 manufacturing sub-sectors, including

• chemicals
• computers
• food and beverage
• furniture
• machinery
• metals
• petroleum
• textiles
• tobacco
• transportation equipment

The largest sub-sectors are transportation equipment, fabricated metal, and food manufacturing.

Program priorities

The Manufacturing Program has selected research priorities on the basis of burden, need, and impact and collaborated with other NIOSH research programs to write the research goals in the NIOSH Strategic Plan for FYs 2019-2026. Priority areas include (but are not limited to):

• Reduce hazardous exposures in the workplace leading to health concerns including:
  • chronic conditions, reproductive health, or neurological disorders.
• Prevent hearing loss from exposure at work to loud noise or chemicals that damage hearing.
• Reduce musculoskeletal disorders and specific respiratory conditions.
• Preven injuries and fatalities due to contact with objects and equipment.

NORA Council

The Manufacturing Program helps lead the NORA Manufacturing Council, which brings together individuals and organizations to share information, form partnerships, and promote adoption and dissemination of solutions that work.

Accomplishments

Silica in stone countertop finishing

There have been multiple cases in the United States of silicosis in engineered stone countertop workers, including deaths. These workers perform tasks such as cutting, grinding, drilling, and polishing that can release high levels of respirable dust into the breathing zone of the worker. Newer engineered stone materials may contain a much higher level of silica than natural stone.

To help address this issue, NIOSH researchers have studied engineering controls that may be used to reduce worker exposure to silica dust. Some of this work was featured in Stone Update Magazine, Avoiding the Silica Dust-up, Sometimes, it's more than throwing water on the problem.

Other NIOSH products

Outbreak of Silicosis among Engineered Stone Countertop Workers in Four States

Outbreak of silicosis among engineered stone countertop workers in four states.

Oct 29, 2019

OSHA/NIOSH Hazard Alert: Worker Exposure to Silica during Countertop Manufacturing, Finishing, and Installation

This alert provides information to help control countertop workers’ exposures to crystalline silica.

Feb 26, 2026

Infographic

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Inhaling Silica Dust Can Cause Deadly Lung Disease

• Crystalline silica is found in granite, artificial/ engineered stone, and other stone products.
• When workers cut, grind, drill, or polish these materials, very small particles of crystalline silica dust get in the air.
• Breathing in these very small (respirable) crystalline silica particles can cause irreversible scarring in the lungs, trouble breathing, permanent disability, and death.
• Crystalline silica dust can also cause lung cancer, kidney damage, and autoimmune disease.

Employers Must Ensure that Workers are Protected from Exposure to Crystalline Silica

• Minimize exposures through effective engineering controls and work practices.
• Assess employee exposures to crystalline silica dust to assure they are not above the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 μg/m3, averaged over an 8-hour work day.
• Provide and ensure proper use of respirators until exposures are reduced below the PEL or if exposures cannot be reduced with engineering controls and work practices.
• Provide initial and periodic medical examinations to exposed workers.
• Train workers on the health hazards, workplace exposures, measures implemented to protect workers, and their roles in protection.

More information

Learn more on the NIOSH webpage: Silica and Worker Health | Silica | CDC

Go to www.osha.gov/dsg/topics/silicacrystalline/ for more information.

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Contacts

Contact Manufacturing Program leadership at mnf-program@cdc.gov with questions.