HELOTES, TX -- Venetian Marble & Granite has been cited for allegedly exposing its employees to unsafe levels of crystalline silica particles by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Venetian Marble & Granite, which employs about 45 workers and services San Antonio and the South Texas market, was cited with 10 serious safety and health violations totaling proposed penalties of $41,400.

The cititations stem from a Nov. 8, inspection in which OSHA determined that Venetian Marble & Granite workers were exposed to respirable crystalline silica particles while grinding, sanding and buffing countertop products, including natural granite, quartz and solid surfaces.

"This company jeopardized the health of its workers by exposing them to respirable silica above OSHA's established limits," said Jeff Funke, director of OSHA's San Antonio Area Office. Among its citations, OSHA said countertop fabricators were not wearing protective respirators.

In addition to the crystralline silica exposure citations, OSHA cited Venetian for failure to follow proper lock out/tag out procedures prior to servicing and performing maintenance on machinery, failing to properly guard a table saw and cut off saw, and failure to train employees on the use of hazardous chemicals.

Read more about OSHA's citations against Venetian Marble & Granite.

Posted by Rich Christianson