Three Louisiana based companies were fined $112,000 for alleged asbestos related violations.
Louisiana Health Care Consultants LLC, Dean Building Holdings and Bob Dean Enterprises Inc. were cited for multiple willful and serious violations.
A willful violation is described as a violation wherein the agency is aware that the conduct is considered prohibited by OSHA or shows reckless disregard of the requirements of the regulations.
Willful Violations in these 3 cases:
- Failure to provide a competent person to supervise the removal of a ceiling that contained asbestos.
- Failure provide the required respiratory equipment
- Failure to inform workers that the worksite contained asbestos
Serious violation, on the other hand, is a violation that has a substantial probability of death or serious physical injury caused by a hazard that the employer knew or should’ve known about.
Serious Violations in these 3 cases:
- Failure to monitor for asbestos materials
- Failure to utilize engineering controls
- Failure to determine and minimize employee exposure to asbestos
- Failure to provide and ensure the use of personal protective equipment
- Failure to properly manage contaminated clothing and asbestos containing waste
- Failure to train employees engaged in the removal of asbestos
Most of these violations could’ve been easily avoided if both management and workers paid closer attention to their work environment. So if your job requires you to handle asbestos or exposes you to this mineral, make sure that you have and you use proper respiratory and personal protective equipment.
