An Empire State asbestos removal company faces some $83,000 in proposed fines for safety violations committed last year during an Albany project. Lorice Enterprises, based in Albany, committed the safety infractions when its workers improperly removed asbestos-containing roofing materials last summer, claims the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
During an August 2012 inspection, OSHA investigators issued nine violations, according to this recent story from the Albany Times Union. An OSHA press release states: Lorice Enterprises did not conduct an initial exposure assessment to determine exposure for the workers removing asbestos-containing roofing material. Additionally, the employer did not utilize wet methods to ensure that asbestos did not become airborne and failed to ensure head and eye protection for these workers.
The OSHA Albany office launched the inspection after receiving a referral from the New York State Asbestos Control Bureau. Of the nine violations, OSHA classified the failure to daily track potential asbestos exposures as willful. This means, says OSHA, the company showed disregard for the law, or acted with plain indifference to worker safety and health. That one violation carries a $49,000 fine.
The agency considers the other eight violations as serious. This means there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
Lorice Enterprises didn't comment to the Times Union.
The consequences of asbestos exposure can be serious and life threatening. Inhalation of asbestos fibers causes asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma, a rare but fatal condition that affects the lungs, heart, and, in rare cases, the abdomen.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related condition and believe you were exposed to asbestos at a job site, you may be entitled to financial compensation. To learn more about your legal options, please contact Sokolove Law for a free asbestos lawsuit evaluation.
