Marble and granite company cited for exposing workers to silica dust

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries said Wednesday it cited a marble and granite company for exposing workers to dangerous levels of silica dust.

The department said it cited Skagit County-based A+ Marble & Granite LLC after inspectors in July found the company had done little to fix safety problems first identified in April 2022.

The department cited the company for “failure to abate” hazardous conditions and fined it $329,880.

Inspectors visited A+ three times in February and March and found the company’s owner “uncooperative at every turn,” the department said.

The department secured a search warrant from a Skagit County judge that allowed them to enter the business and conduct a sampling of silica levels.

Workplace exposure to crystalline silica, a common mineral found in construction materials, can lead to lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney disease, the department said.