OSHA has fined AMD Industries more than $1.2 million after exposing five of their employees to asbestos.
After a 2002 safety audit, point-of-purchase merchandising firm AMD Industries discovered asbestos-containing materials in the Cicero facility’s boilers, heating units and piping. In 2010, the company instructed five of their employees to remove the asbestos material. These employees were not provided with training or protective clothing, making them vulnerable to asbestos-related diseases like asbestosis. Asbestos is also the leading cause of mesothelioma, a deadly cancer affecting the tissues surrounding the lung, abdomen and heart. The materials being removed reportedly contained 20-50 percent asbestos content.
OSHA issued citations to AMD Industries for several reasons, including:
• Failure to follow proper removal techniques
• Failure to inform the employees of the location and quantity of asbestos
• Failure to use standard procedures for minimizing asbestos dust
• The asbestos-containing material was not properly disposed of
• The employees were not properly trained in handling asbestos, and they were not provided protective clothing and equipment
This situation demonstrates that, even though the market for asbestos is drastically reduced, buildings and workplaces still contain harmful asbestos materials. Employers must take basic precautions to ensure their employees are not exposed to the fatal asbestos risks.
If you work at an asbestos job site and your employer is not taking basic precautions to protect you, please contact the experienced asbestos lawyers in Baltimore, Maryland at The Law Office of Brown | Kiely, LLP to schedule a consultation.
