The U.S. Department of Labor has cited Brazilian Stone Design LLC, a countertop manufacturer based in Powder Springs, Georgia, for exposing its workers to dangerous levels of respirable crystalline silica. Following an inspection by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the company was issued seven serious violations and fined $33,000 in penalties.
The violations included failing to provide respirators or ensure proper fit testing and training, not conducting air monitoring, and neglecting to implement a hearing conservation program. These lapses left workers vulnerable to airborne crystalline silica—a mineral found in stone and concrete that becomes hazardous when pulverized during cutting, grinding, or drilling.
Respirable crystalline silica is extremely fine—at least 100 times smaller than common sand—and is generated in many industrial processes. Exposure to this dust can cause severe health issues including silicosis, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and kidney disease. OSHA enforces silica exposure standards specifically for both construction and general industry sectors…