DeKalb business cited, allegedly exposed workers to amputation risks

The U.S. Department of Labor cited a countertop maker in DeKalb County for putting workers at risk of amputation and exposing them to dangerous minerals, officials said.

Atlanta Kitchen LLC, located near Decatur and Avondale Estates, faces more than $130,000 in penalties due to the health and safety hazards, the labor department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration said in a statement Friday.

The company, owned by Construction Resources and Builder Specialties, exposed employees at its manufacturing facility to unsafe levels of silica, a mineral used in construction materials that can be dangerous if inhaled, according to OSHA.

Atlanta Kitchen also put employees at risk of electrical shocks, and did not put safeguards on dangerous equipment, creating a possible amputation hazard, OSHA said.

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In a statement, Construction Resources CEO Mitch Hires said Atlanta Kitchen is a “50-year old family-oriented business with a continued focus on providing a safe work environment for its employees.”

“Our team is working diligently with OSHA and a 3rd party consulting company to correct any deficiencies as worker safety is paramount to our company,” Hires said.

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