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Pathfinder Safety Compliance
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OSHA Fines Asbestos Abatement
Contractor $57,000 for Health Hazards
A Syracuse, New York area
asbestos abatement contractor faces $57,000 in proposed fines
from the U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) for exposing employees to asbestos-related
health hazards during an asbestos removal project at the Agway
Building in Dewitt, N.Y.
The environmental services
company was cited for a total of six alleged willful and serious
violations of occupational health standards following an OSHA
inspection begun Nov. 13, 2006.
"Most employers today
are well aware of the hazards posed by asbestos, yet this employer
chose to bypass employee health and safety at this project by
ignoring basic safeguards required by law," said Chris R.
Adams, director of OSHA's Syracuse Area Office.
OSHA's inspection found that
required monitoring of employees' exposure to asbestos was not
conducted on several occasions even though monitoring records
alleged that it had been done. This finding resulted in the issuance
of one willful citation, with a proposed fine of $42,000. OSHA
issues a willful violation when an employer commits a violation
with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee
safety and health.
The inspection also found
that the company failed to collect short-term air sampling; keep
accurate exposure monitoring records; notify employees of sampling
results; train employees to properly establish an asbestos containment
system; and prevent asbestos contaminated water from leaking
from an enclosed work area. These conditions resulted in the
issuance of five serious citations, carrying $15,000 in proposed
fines. OSHA issues a serious violation when death or serious
physical harm is likely to result from a hazard about which the
employer knew or should have known.
Adams explained that continued
exposure to asbestos can eventually result in serious diseases
of the lungs and other organs. Detailed information on asbestos
hazards, regulations and safeguards is available on OSHA's Web
site at www.osha.gov/SLTC/asbestos/index.html.
The company has 15 business
days from receipt of the citations to request and participate
in an informal conference with OSHA or to contest them before
the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
The inspection was conducted by OSHA's Syracuse Area Office,
3300 Vickery Road, North Syracuse; telephone (315) 451-0808.
Source: OSHA News Release 4/09/07
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