Nine Sun Valley Employers Cited for Silica Health and Safety Violations
California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) cited nine employers in Sun Valley within the greater Los Angeles area following efforts to address the growing number of silicosis cases among stone workers in California.
As California faces an increase in silicosis cases among stone workers, Cal/OSHA continues ramping up enforcement efforts and today announced citing nine more employers, this time in Sun Valley. The safety violations include over $168,000 in fines.
Cal/OSHA cited the following employers:
Miguel Clavel – Violations: 1 regulatory, 6 general, 2 serious | Total Fine: $18,320
Gasper Marble and Tile – Violations: 1 regulatory, 6 general, 2 serious | Total Fine: $18,785
Jose Sandoval Marble and Granite – Violations: 1 regulatory, 6 general, 2 serious | Total Fine: $18,785
Valley Marble – Violations: 1 regulatory, 6 general, 2 serious | Total Fine: $18,785
Edward Ponce – Violations: 1 regulatory, 6 general, 2 serious | Total Fine: $18,785
Durango Marble – Violations: 1 regulatory, 6 general, 2 serious | Total Fine: $18,785
Nacho Brothers Marble Inc. – Violations: 1 regulatory, 6 general, 2 serious | Total Fine: $18,785
M & M Three Marble Inc. – Violations: 1 regulatory, 6 general, 2 serious | Total Fine: $18,785
LB Quality Stone Experts Inc. – Violations: 1 regulatory, 6 general, 2 serious | Total Fine: $18,785
The Van Nuys District Office conducted inspections and it was determined that all the employers were in violation of multiple Title 8 Safety and Health Regulations, including failure to use methods to effectively suppress dust and failed to provide their employees with full-face, tight-fitting power air purifying respirators.
WHY IT MATTERS: Cal/OSHA’s workplace safety laws and emergency temporary standard are key components to ensure that workers are safe. Increasing awareness to employers and employees of the dangerous effects of inhaling respirable crystalline silica dust from tasks like grinding, drilling and cutting, can help save lives and avoid incurable health conditions like silicosis, lung cancer and kidney diseases.
With cases of silicosis increasing across the state, Cal/OSHA has intensified its enforcement and education efforts. In December of last year an emergency temporary standard was adopted to enhance existing guidelines for respirable crystalline silica hazards. The Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (OSHSB) voted to readopt the emergency temporary standard at its August 15 meeting.
DIR and Cal/OSHA recently launched a bilingual public awareness and education campaign that offers employers and workers resources and information about the proper use of safety equipment and safe worksite practices. The campaign website, worksafewithsilica.org, also provides vital information for workers on workplace safety rights and how to report safety violations.
Since 2019, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has confirmed a total of 176 cases of silicosis related to engineered stone, including at least 13 deaths and at least 19 individuals who have undergone a lung transplant. A total of 105 of the 176 cases occurred in Los Angeles County, with the remainder occurring in other parts of the state.
Read press release on CA Department of Industrial Relations
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