Oregon City Fined for Asbestos Violations

An Oregon city is facing fines after violating asbestos regulations during a demolition project in February. Central Point was fined $815 by the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) when the city did not provide warning or protection from asbestos to their employees.

While only trace amounts of asbestos were found in the debris, specific rules for training and handling the carcinogen must be followed. Spokeswoman for the Oregon OSHA, Melanie Mesaros says, “Despite no asbestos being found on the site, it doesn’t mean they followed all the rules. Basically, they were supposed to have told the employees there was potentially exposed to asbestos there or that the material could have contained asbestos. They were then supposed to have actually tested for it before they started working.”

Exposure to asbestos at any level can lead to a number of illnesses including asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma, a fatal form of cancer. In the 1970’s the U.S. government implemented strict regulations on the use of asbestos. Although the carcinogen is no longer in popular use, contact with asbestos commonly occurs during renovations and demolitions of structures that contain the mineral. For this reason, testing must be conducted prior to any construction and if a presence of asbestos is found specific removal procedures must be followed.

Source: http://www.wiredprnews.com/2009/05/25/city-fined-for-asbestos-violations_200905253804.html