Architectural Stone Werkes Inc.: Washington L&I silica citation

Findings on silica dust

• No assessment of exposure to respirable crystalline silica was carried out. Air samples showed the grinders' exposure was above the action level and above the permissible exposure limit.
• No integrated dust controls, like shrouds or dust collectors, were in place during grinding. Nothing besides wall fans was used.
• Employees got no effective training on silica hazards, and no written silica exposure control plan existed.
• Workers whose exposure was above the action level received no medical surveillance, and no area above the exposure limit was marked as regulated.

More hazards in this citation

• Required site-specific elements were missing from the written respiratory protection program.
• No fit testing, effective training or medical evaluation was given to employees who had to wear half-face respirators.
• The citation also listed three more general violations, none penalized (WAC 296-842-14005's companions WAC 296-817-20005, 296-817-20010 and 296-800-13025(2)). The provided text doesn't include descriptions of them.

The employer's time to answer the citation: An appeal had to be filed within 15 working days of the citation. Posting the citation, fixing all violations and returning written proof of abatement were required, or more penalties could follow. The employer had to pay within 15 working days of receiving it.

For anyone who worked at Architectural Stone Werkes

Today, most new silicosis cases in the US show up at shops cutting quartz and other engineered stone. Two claims may be available to you if your work at Architectural Stone Werkes in Seattle involved slab cutting, grinding or polishing. Workers' comp under the employer's insurance is one; a lawsuit against the stone's manufacturers is the other.