US Division of Labor security investigators discovered a Selma, Ala, brick producer uncovered employees to silica crystalline respiratory hazards which have the potential to result in lung most cancers, continual obstructive pulmonary illness, and kidney illness.
The division’s Occupational Security and Well being Administration (OSHA) cited Henry Brick Co Inc, a clay brick producer, with 11 severe citations and proposed $124,212 in penalties.
Particularly, the company discovered the employer:
- Uncovered employees to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica of as much as six-and-a-half instances the permissible publicity stage.
- Failed to judge and implement engineering controls and work practices to scale back and preserve worker publicity to respirable crystalline silica to or beneath the permissible publicity.
- Failed to supply efficient coaching on crystalline silica to workers uncovered over the permissible publicity stage.
- Uncared for to supply free medical surveillance, at an inexpensive time and place, to workers uncovered to respirable crystalline silica above the motion stage for 30 or extra days per yr.
- Required workers to put on respirators with out first offering coaching as required.
- Uncared for to suit check or present medical analysis for employees required to put on respirators.
- Allowed workers to work in areas that required respirators with out offering a respiratory safety program that met necessities.
“Crystalline silica could be lethal. Employees who’re overexposed to it may contract incurable, progressively disabling, and generally deadly diseases. Because of this employers should take each precaution to guard workers from this hazard,” says OSHA space workplace director Jose Gonzalez, in a launch. “Employers with questions on find out how to develop respiratory safety packages can contact our educated professionals for help.”
The corporate has 15 enterprise days from receipt of their citations and penalties to conform, request an off-the-cuff convention with OSHA, or contest the findings earlier than the impartial Occupational Security and Well being Evaluate Fee.
Practically 2.3 million employees within the US are uncovered to silica whereas on the job. Respiration crystalline silica could cause a number of illnesses, together with incurable lung illness that may result in incapacity and dying. To assist shield employees, OSHA has issued two respirable crystalline silica requirements.
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