Chicago Countertop Maker Facing $1 Million in Fines Over Workers’ Lung Disease

The company was accused of failing to protect its workers, leading to one worker requiring a double lung transplant due to silica dust exposure.

The U.S. Department of Labor Building in Washington, D.C., on March 26, 2020. Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images

A Chicago countertop maker faces $1 million in penalties after a worker needed a double lung transplant allegedly due to illness caused by silica dust exposure, federal safety inspectors said on Monday.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) conducted an inspection and issued $1 million in penalties after finding that the company exposed its workers to silica levels up to six times greater than the permissible limits.