OSHA Inspection: U.S. POSTAL SERVICE - LAFAYETTE

Issued

Jun 20, 2014

Abate by

Aug 7, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,295 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(7)(iv): The employer did not provide to all employees who perform housekeeping work in areas where asbestos containing material (ACM) and/or presumed asbestos containing material (PACM) is present, an asbestos awareness training course covering the health effects of asbestos; and/or locations of ACM and/or recognition of ACM and PACM damage and deterioration and/or requirements in this standard related to housekeeping, and/or proper response to fiber release episodes:    (a) On or about April 4, 2014, housekeeping staff/custodians were performing duties such as sweeping and buffing of floors which contained asbestos.  These floors included, but were not limited to:  processing/workroom, locker rooms, and the vestibule.  These employees were potentially exposed to asbestos fibers.

Issued

Jun 20, 2014

Abate by

Aug 7, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,825 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1001(k)(2): All spills and sudden releases of material containing asbestos were not cleaned up as soon as possible:    (a) On or about April 4, 2014, the processing/workroom floor was found to have damaged ACM tile and ACM mastic, which created debris and dust in multiple locations.  The areas were not being regularly cleaned or contained.  Employees were potentially exposed to asbestos fibers.

Issued

Jun 20, 2014

Abate by

Aug 7, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,825 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1001(k)(8): The employer cleaned up waste and debris and accompanying dust in an area containing accessible or visibly deteriorated ACM and/or PACM, by dry dusting, dry sweeping or vacuuming without using high-efficiency particulate air filters:    (a) On or about April 4, 2014, the processing/workroom floor was found to have damaged ACM tile and ACM mastic, which created debris and dust in multiple locations.  Custodian/housekeeping employees were dry sweeping these areas on a daily basis, which could have potentially exposed them to asbestos fibers.

Issued

Jun 20, 2014

Abate by

Aug 7, 2014

Penalty

Initial $765 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(5)(i): The employer did not affix signs or labels so that employees would be notified of what materials contain ACM and/or PACM to materials that were previously identified to be ACM and/or PACM:    (a) On or about April 4, 2014, only one symbol, an upside down triangle with the letter A inside it, was present indicating that asbestos was present.  It did not explain where the asbestos was found, and it was not located on an area that contained asbestos.  The mastic and tile in the processing/ workroom floor were unlabeled, and the employer's survey noted these materials as containing asbestos.  Employees were unaware of what building materials contained asbestos.