OSHA Cites Baton Rouge, La.-Based Employers $112,000 for Alleged Asbestos Violations
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Monday, June 22, 2009 |
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The
U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) has cited Louisiana Health Care Consultants LLC,
Dean Building Holdings and Bob Dean Enterprises Inc. jointly for three
alleged willful and 10 alleged serious violations of federal health and
safety regulations. Proposed penalties total $112,000.
"These
companies failed to follow OSHA's standards for asbestos-related
projects in the construction industry," said Dean McDaniel, the
agency's regional administrator in Dallas. "Employers must be committed
to keeping the workplace safe and healthful to prevent injuries,
illnesses and fatalities."
The willful violations were issued
for failing to provide a competent person to supervise the removal of a
ceiling that contained asbestos, to provide the required respiratory
equipment and to inform workers that the worksite contained asbestos.
OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with an intentional
disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the
Occupational Safety and Health Act.
Serious violations included
failing to monitor for asbestos materials, to utilize engineering
controls to determine and minimize employee exposure to asbestos, to
provide and ensure the use of personal protective equipment, to
properly manage contaminated clothing and asbestos containing waste and
to train employees engaged in the removal of asbestos. Serious
violations are issued when there is a substantial probability that
death or serious injury and/or illness could occur from a hazard about
which the employer knew or should have known.
Louisiana Health
Care Consultants specializes in the management and maintenance of
nursing homes. Bob Dean Enterprises manages commercial and residential
properties. The two companies each employ about 10 workers in Baton
Rouge. The citations stemmed from work being performed at the State
National Life Building in downtown Baton Rouge, which is owned by Dean
Building Holdings and managed by Bob Dean Enterprises.
The
companies have 15 working days from receipt of the citations to comply,
request an informal conference with OSHA's Baton Rouge area director or
contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational
Safety and Health Review Commission. Baton Rouge area employers and
workers with questions about safety and health can call 225-298-5458 or
OSHA's hotline at 800-321-6742 to report workplace accidents,
fatalities or imminent dangers.
Under the Occupational Safety
and Health Act of 1970, OSHA's role is to assure safe and healthful
working conditions for America's working men and women by setting and
enforcing standards, and providing training, outreach and education.
For more information, visit www.osha.gov.
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