Federal Appeals Court Upholds Foundry's Silica-Related OSHA Citations

CHICAGO - A federal appeals court has reversed a health and safety commission's finding that a foundry should not have been cited by OSHA for exposing certain employees to one and a half times the federal permissible exposure limit for inhalation of silica dust. Chaio v. Gunite Corp., No. 04-4017 (7th Cir.).

In an opinion issued March 24, the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals held that Gunite foundry should be held liable for violations stemming from its failure to address decades-long silica dust problems, despite the company's recent and planned efforts to minimize the health impact on employees.

'Future …