Asbestos must be handled in a special way when removing it from a surface. The method requires experience that a Certified Asbestos Inspector can provide to your jobsite. OSHA has strict guidelines that must be followed and have harsh penalties if found in violation. One man in Illinois has learned the hard way how severe the penalties can be.
Asbestos must be handled in a special way when removing it from a surface. The method requires experience that a Certified Asbestos Inspector can provide to your jobsite. OSHA has strict guidelines that must be followed and have harsh penalties if found in violation. One man in Illinois has learned the hard way how severe the penalties can be.
Duane O’Malley started working on a project in August of 2009 to remove insulation that had asbestos from pipes in a five story building. The workers hired were not trained to work in the hazardous environment. The asbestos was not properly handled during the removal process, which created a very dangerous environment. An everyday store purchased garbage bag was used to collect the removed asbestos. A truck that was not marked to denote the hazard was used to transport the asbestos to a park, and over 100 unmarked trash bags were dumped.
Very few things, if any, were done properly on this job to promote worker’s safety while working with a very hazardous substance. Even the disposal of the asbestos in the unmarked trash bags that were left at a park has numerous violations. The penalty for the violations for Duane was 10 years in prison and fines over $62,000. The short cuts taken to save money on the front end amounted to substantially more than if he had followed the proper steps to remove the hazard.
The Inspector will aid in the proper removal technique needed and arrange for the proper containers to place the hazardous substance in. Each worker should be fitted with the proper personal protection equipment to protect them while working with the hazard. The room must be sealed off and properly ventilated while working with the hazard so particles are not released into the air. The bags have been specially designed to hold the asbestos during transport and are individually labeled to ensure they are properly tracked. A vehicle that has been built for this purpose and marked must be used for transporting the bags to a special facility that has made the appropriate accommodations for permanently storing the hazard.
Click hereto contact a Certified Asbestos Inspector to ensure all of the proper steps are being taken during the removal process. Each of the above steps is crucial for safely removing asbestos from a surface to ensure safety for the workers and the surrounding public that are in the area. The health implications are a direct result from exposure and have lasting implications.
Occupational Health Overcomes Everyday Hazards
Many workers face different types of hazards on a daily basis. Each company has a responsibility to proactively protect their employees from hazards encountered in the workplace. Accidents or injuries can bring production to a halt, reduce the workforce while the employee is recovering and lead to costly worker compensation claims. A Certified Industrial Hygienist can help your company improve the Occupational Health present at your facility.
The Risk from Asbestos
Asbestos poses a major health risk in many office buildings and homes due to the wide adoption and usage of asbestos as an insulator in the construction process. Asbestos can be found in the glue beneath vinyl flooring or in material applied to concrete to regulate the temperature between floors in an office building. These buildings and homes are being remodeled and modernized as an update to the space, but the demolition process can be hazardous if asbestos is present. Test for asbestos prior to starting your next remodeling project to ensure workers are safe.
Communicating the Dangers with HazCom
Hazard Communication focuses on explaining the dangers present at the workplace. The employees have a right to understand the hazards present and how to remain safe on the jobsite. A Certified Industrial Hygienist can work with your company to fulfill the HazCom requirement set forth by OSHA.
