This article has been updated to include comments from Wall to Wall Tile & Stone.
Vancouver-based Wall to Wall Tile & Stone is appealing more than $250,000 in fines levied against them by the Washington state Department of Labor & Industries (L&I).
The $261,000 in fines, according to L&I, are for failing to protect workers from exposure to silica dust and other health hazards associated with stone slab grinding.
Inspectors claim that the company failed to correct serious violations that it was cited for in November 2014. These violations include:
- Failing to use feasible controls to reduce employee exposure to silica dust;
- Not developing a written respiratory protection program to protect employees from inhaling silica dust;
- Failing to provide fit testing for workers required to wear full-face respirators;
- Not providing effective training for employees who wear full-face respirators;
- Not providing noise and hearing protection training to affected employees;
- Not providing annual hearing tests for workers exposed to excess noise;
- Failing to develop, implement and maintain a written Chemical Hazard Communication Program for employees using a variety of chemicals.
The company was also cited for two “failure to abate” general violations and two serious violations that were not associated with the 2014 inspection.
Tyler Kruckenberg, owner of Wall to Wall Tile & Stone, said that his company is safety compliant and feels that L&I is using criteria that don’t fit his industry. He expects the appeal process to clear his business of any wrongdoing.
“We draw a lot of attention with 200-plus employees and there are really no standards for our industry as far as government regulations go,” he said. “Their (L&I) testing and monitoring is not sufficient for our category. Most guys doing this are doing it by hand. Our shop is totally automated.
“I would pay the fine if I agreed with them,” Kruckenberg added. “This is very brand-damaging for our company.”
L&I defines serious violations as hazards where a possibility of serious injury or death is present. General violations are the lowest-level citation, involving safety issues where there is no possibility of serious injury or death.
Kruckenberg said the guidelines and standards his shop goes by come from the Marble Institute of America, and he expects that organization to assist in the appeal process with L&I.
“The troubling thing is L&I isn’t taking the stance of working with us at all,” he added. “They’re supposed to keep employees safe as well as inform the employer of how to keep employees safe. At the end of the day, what’s not good for people is not good for Wall to Wall.”
Look for continuing coverage of this story as the appeal process plays out.
