OSHA fines firm for work at Orland Square
By Mike Nolan mnolan@southtownstar.com August 2, 2012 7:30PM
Updated: September 4, 2012 6:17AM
A company doing work as part of an ongoing renovation project at Orland Square Mall in Orland Park has been fined by a federal agency that alleges workers were exposed to unsafe levels of silica.
No mall employees or customers were exposed to dangerous levels of the material, said Gary Anderson, area director of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Similar to asbestos, silica exposure can result in serious respiratory ailments.
Workers for Titan Demolition were exposed to silica while tearing up flooring at the mall, according to OSHA citations issued July 24.
Titan will be required to pay about $7,000 in fines and take steps to show that its employees are being safeguarded, Anderson said.
He said the work was done at night, after the mall closed, and Titan took steps to screen the work areas to not scatter silica dust. Anderson said OSHA notified mall management that no mall employees or shoppers were at risk of silica exposure.
He said OSHA made inspections at Orland Square from mid-May through July after receiving a complaint.
