PA Brick Maker Fined $496K for Silica Hazards

The U.S. Department of Labor cited a Pennsylvania brick manufacturer for willfully exposing workers to unsafe levels of respirable silica dust. The agency proposed $496,000 in fines for three willful and four serious violations at the company's Watsontown plant.

An inspection revealed the company failed to adequately protect employees from inhaling silica dust, a known carcinogen that can cause silicosis, lung cancer, and other serious respiratory diseases. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforces standards to limit worker exposure to this hazard.

The Department of Labor deemed the violations "willful," indicating the employer knew about the hazardous condition or a duty to comply with a standard and made no reasonable effort to correct it. The proposed penalties reflect the severity of the hazards and the company's disregard for worker safety.

The alleged exposures occurred at the Watsontown plant. The fines aim to penalize the company and encourage immediate corrective actions to ensure worker health and safety.