WATSONTOWN, PA — The U.S. Department of Labor proposed $496,528 in penalties against General Shale Brick Inc. after federal inspectors alleged the company knowingly exposed workers at its Watsontown plant to respirable silica above permissible levels and failed to implement required protections.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the company, which does business as Watsontown Brick Company, for three willful, four serious, one repeat and one other-than-serious violation following a Feb. 12 inspection.
OSHA said employees in Plant 3, where molded brick is manufactured, were exposed to silica dust above allowable limits. The agency alleged the company knew about the exposure but did not correct the hazard or require affected employees to use respirators.
Respirable crystalline silica can be generated when materials such as brick, stone and concrete are cut, crushed or otherwise processed, and prolonged exposure can cause serious lung disease.
OSHA also alleged that the company failed to establish regulated areas for silica exposure, did not monitor exposure levels across all jobs involving silica and did not provide required medical examinations for employees exposed for more than 30 days a year.
Inspectors further found that annual respirator fit testing had not been completed for workers who were required to use respiratory protection.
That finding also led OSHA to issue a repeat violation because General Shale had previously been cited for failing to conduct respirator fit tests at its Augusta, Georgia, operation, according to the Labor Department.
The inspection was conducted under OSHA’s Site-Specific Targeting program and its national emphasis program for silica, along with a review of the company’s injury and illness records.
The willful classification is among OSHA’s most serious citation categories and is used when the agency alleges an employer knowingly failed to comply with a legal requirement or acted with indifference to worker safety.
The proposed penalties are not final. General Shale has 15 business days from receiving the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Support the local news that supports Chester County. MyChesCo delivers reliable, fact-based reporting and essential community resources—free for everyone. If you value that, click here to become a patron today.