Utah Court Orders Labor Board to Reconsider Star Foundry Worker’s Silicosis Claim

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's Court of Appeal has set aside a labor commission’s decision in favor of Star Foundry and ordered reconsideration of a foundry worker’s claim for permanent benefits for an alleged silica-related injury.

The court concluded May 16 that the Labor Commission Appeals Board focused too heavily on symptoms resulting from the claimant’s smoking history and failed to consider whether his silicosis provided an independent basis for his permanent total disability claim.

Petitioner Randy James Clawson was diagnosed with silicosis near the end of a 30-year career at Star Foundry, where he was exposed to silica dust, …