Liberty Casting Company, Delaware: OSHA silica citation

Silica dust: the findings

• Exposure to crystalline silica among employees went past the permissible levels.
• To limit silica exposure, the company used no engineering or work practice controls. Respirators weren't provided, and their use wasn't required.
• There was no exposure control plan at the company, and no procedures for medical surveillance.
• Training on OSHA's silica standards was not given to employees.

More hazards from this citation

• No hazard assessments were conducted, and personal protective equipment wasn't provided by the company.
• Lockout/tagout control procedures were missing, and machine guarding fell short.
• Fall and electrical hazards were among the dangers employees faced.

The employer's time to answer the citation: Once the citations and penalties arrived, the company had 15 working days to comply, to ask OSHA's area director for an informal meeting, or to challenge the findings in front of the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Were you a worker at Liberty Casting?

Sand for molds and cores, along with casting cleanup, puts silica into the air foundry workers breathe. A silicosis claim usually begins with workers' comp for people who worked at Liberty Casting in Delaware. A lawyer can also check if a manufacturer can be sued over the equipment or materials.