Minneapolis - St. Paul Metro

A south Minneapolis iron foundry that repeatedly violated federal law with its air pollution also failed to protect employees from exposure to hazardous chemicals, according to a federal inspection.

The Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found that Smith foundry improperly exposed employees to carbon monoxide and respirable crystalline silica, and didn’t provide them with the proper protective equipment or training to mitigate such exposure, according to a news release from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

Smith Foundry, which is currently under an enforcement process with the Environmental Protection Agency for violating the federal Clean Air Act, also didn’t provide employees with baseline medical examinations “within 30 days of assignment.” It also failed to provide new employees with proper respiration and mitigation training, according to the MPCA.