OSHA fined Contractor for violating the standards during Asbestos removal Job
Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed $136,000 in fines against Danvers, Massachusetts, contractor William A. Berry & Son Inc. was brought up for 19 so-called violations of OSHA standards while bumping off asbestos-containing material last September at Boston’s Beth Israel Hospital.
“Asbestos is well recognized as a health hazard since inhalation of asbestos fibers may lead to lung cancer and other diseases. OSHA standards are designed to minimize the risk of exposure and its potential impact on workers’ health, but they are effective only so long as employers adhere to them,” said Area Director Brenda Gordon.
OSHA inspectors discovered that Berry workers were moving out laboratory ventilation hoods with asbestos-containing boards without right respiratory protection and compelled safeguards to downplay exposure. Also, William A. Berry & Son Inc. allegedly broke down to conduct an initial asbestos exposure assessment and monitor the work site day by day for exposure, constitute regulated workplaces, render protective dressing and a decontamination field, use HEPA vacuums to gather up debris, properly train workers, and guarantee inspection and oversight by a competent individual.
The contractor faces a intentional citation with a $55,000 fine for breaking down to build a regulated work area. A total of 17 grievous citations were brought out for the remaining details and a single other-than-serious citation was imposed for not rendering OSHA logs in a well-timed manner.
