City of Central Point, OR Fined by OSHA for Asbestos Violations

In May 2009, the city of Central Point, OR was fined by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) for failing to protect workers from exposure to asbestos at a demolition project.

The city had ordered the demolition of a vacant house in February 2009. After determining the property owner was not able to pay for asbestos remediation and demolition, the city designated the property as a “blighted house.”

While only trace elements of asbestos were found in demolition debris, Oregon OSHA cited the city $815 for the violations, which included:

Failure to inform employees of the potential presence of asbestos;

Failure to test for asbestos in a 100-year-old structure prior to demolition;

Failure to post warning signs at the work site;

Failure to use approved wetting down methods to remove asbestos-containing materials;

Failure to remove tiles in a manner to control the release of asbestos dusts; and

Failure to provide adequate training to employees on the work site and for not providing clothing, gloves, foot covering and respirators to workers handling materials on the site.

Even short-term exposure to asbestos is known to cause serious illnesses such as mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer or asbestosis.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos illness, contact our lawyers today for a free review of your case. A Weitz & Luxenberg representative will contact you as soon as possible.