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US countertop manufacturer faces $1M in penalties following silica-health crisis

A Chicago-based countertop manufacturer is facing severe repercussions after the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) levied $1 million in fines for failing to protect its workers from hazardous silica exposure. This negligence has resulted in two employees developing incurable lung diseases that now necessitate lung transplants.

OSHA inspectors initiated an air sampling investigation at the company in question, Florenza Marble and Granite Corp., uncovering alarming conditions. Employees were reportedly working in a dense cloud of dust with minimal safeguards against silica exposure.


Photo: Dreamstime.

The company, which specialises in cutting engineered and natural stone countertops for both residential and commercial projects, was found to have insufficient measures in place to mitigate the risks associated with silica dust, a known hazard in various industries, including furniture manufacturing.

The most severe cases involved a 59-year-old father and his 31-year-old son, both diagnosed with silicosis, a debilitating and often fatal lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust. Another employee, aged 47, has been undergoing treatment for work-related lung disease for over three years.

OSHA's investigation revealed that Florenza Marble and Granite Corp., under the leadership of owner Brad Karp, failed to establish a safety program to protect its six employees. This oversight persisted despite warnings from two workers' compensation insurance carriers, who had refused to insure the company in 2022 and 2024 due to its failure to conduct air sampling and implement worker protection measures.

Silicosis, a condition that drastically reduces life expectancy and offers slim survival rates following a lung transplant, is a risk for workers in industries with prolonged exposure to silica dust, such as construction, mining, and manufacturing.

The two employees suffering from silicosis have limited English proficiency and were not informed about the dangers of silica exposure. They also did not receive any training on the use of personal protective equipment or other safety precautions from their employer, highlighting a significant lapse in workplace safety protocols at Florenza Marble and Granite Corp.

Source: www.furnituretoday.com

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