OSHA Inspection: GEORGE E. WAHLEN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER

Issued

Nov 7, 2016

Abate by

Dec 12, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1101(d)(3): The employer of employees who were exposed to asbestos hazards did not comply with applicable protective provisions to protect such employees:  (a) George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center at 500 S. Foothill, Salt Lake City, UT: On or about May 16, 2016, the employer did not comply with the applicable protective provisions to protect employees, who were exposed to asbestos hazards. In a laundry room in Building 3 on the first floor in Zone C, three employees conducting electrical work were exposed to asbestos hazards from a subcontractor employee with United Team Mechanical in the same room, cutting a hole through a wall for a drier vent with a hammer drill and chisel and hammer. While cutting the hole in the wall, the subcontractor employee cut through black mastic on wall boards. The employer had determined that the mastic on the wall board contained 6% chrysotile asbestos. Cutting through a wall with asbestos containing black mastic with a hammer drill and chisel and hammer is a Class III asbestos operation but a regulated area was not established by the subcontractor. This condition exposed employees to an asbestos hazard.

Issued

Nov 7, 2016

Abate by

Dec 12, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1101(f)(2)(i): The employer with a work operation covered by the asbestos standard did not ensure that a "competent person" conducted an exposure assessment immediately before or at the initiation of the operation to ascertain expected exposures during that operation or workplace:  (a) George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center at 500 S. Foothill, Salt Lake City, UT: On or about June 15, 2016, the employer with a work operation covered by the asbestos standard did not ensure that a "competent person" conducted an exposure assessment immediately before or at the initiation of the operation to ascertain expected exposures during that operation. In Building 3 on the first floor in zone A, an employee removed a 30 cubic inch section of thermal system insulation from the top of ceiling tiles in the plenum, which had pervious been dislodged from a pipe elbow by an electrician during installation of a coaxial cable. Thermal system insulation is Presumed Asbestos Containing Material. The employer had determined a non-homogeneous mixture of off white coating, 40% plant fiber, 40% mineral wood in binder with perlite and 5% chrysotile asbestos in off white plaster with 20% mineral wood. Removal of the thermal system insulation was Class IV asbestos work. A competent person had not performed an exposure assessment. This condition exposed employees to an asbestos hazard.   Abatement Note:  A competent person is capable of identifying existing asbestos hazards in the workplace and capable of selecting the appropriate control strategy for asbestos exposure, and who has the authority to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.  In addition, for Class I- II work, the competent person shall receive training which meets the criteria of EPA's Model Accreditation Plan for supervisors. In addition, for Class III work, the competent person shall receive training which meets the criteria of EPA requirements for training of local education agency maintenance or custodial staff as set forth at 40 CFR 763.92(a)(2). In addition, for Class IV work, the competent person shall receive training which meets the criteria of EPA requirements for training of local education agency maintenance or custodial staff as set forth at 40 CFR 763.92(a)(1).

Issued

Nov 7, 2016

Abate by

Dec 12, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1101(k)(2)(ii)(A): Building and/or facility owners failed to notify prospective employers applying for or bidding for work whose employees can reasonably be expected to work in or adjacent to areas containing asbestos containing material or presumed asbestos containing material of the presence, location and quantity:   (a) George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center at 500 S. Foothill, Salt Lake City, UT: On or about May 16, 2016, the building owner did not ensure that subcontractors with United Team Mechanical were notified of the presence, location and quantity of asbestos containing material or presumed asbestos containing material. During the installation of a drier vent through a wall in the laundry room in Building 3 on the first floor in Zone C, a subcontractor employee with United Team Mechanical cut through black mastic on a wall board with a hammer drill and chisel and hammer. The building owner had determined that the mastic on the wall board contained 6% chrysotile asbestos. Cutting through a wall with asbestos containing black mastic with a hammer drill and chisel and hammer is a Class III asbestos operation, but a regulated area was not established by the subcontractor. This condition exposed the subcontractor employee to an asbestos hazard.   Abatement Note: Notification either shall be in writing, or shall consist of a personal communication between the owner and the person to whom notification must be given or their authorized representatives.

Issued

Nov 7, 2016

Abate by

Dec 12, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1101(k)(2)(ii)(B): The building owner and/or facility owner did not notify employees of the owner who will work in or adjacent to areas containing asbestos containing material or presumed asbestos containing material of the presence, location and quantity:  (a) George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center at 500 S. Foothill, Salt Lake City, UT: On or about May 16, 2016, the employer did not ensure that employees were notified of the presence, location and quantity of asbestos containing material or presumed asbestos containing material. Two employees conducted coaxial cable installation with potential exposure to asbestos in the ceiling plenum of Building 3 on the first floor in Zone A. One of the employees came into contact and dislodged a 30 cubic inch section of thermal system insulation from a pipe elbow.  Thermal system insulation is Presumed Asbestos Containing Material but the dislodged section was not identified as Presumed Asbestos Containing and abated from the top of a ceiling tile in the plenum until on or about June 15, 2016. The employer had determined a non-homogeneous mixture of off white coating, 40% plant fiber, 40% mineral wood in binder with perlite and 5% chrysotile asbestos in off white plaster with 20% mineral wood. This condition exposed employees to an asbestos hazard.  (b) George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center at 500 S. Foothill, Salt Lake City, UT: On or about May 16, 2016, the employer did not ensure that employees were notified of the presence, location and quantity of asbestos containing material or presumed asbestos containing material. Three employees were exposed to asbestos hazards, while conducting electrical work in a laundry room in Building 3 on the first floor in Zone C, adjacent to a subcontractor employee with United Team Mechanical installing a drier vent through a wall. During the installation the subcontractor employee cut through black mastic on a wall board with a hammer drill and chisel and hammer. The employer had determined that the mastic on the wall board contained 6% chrysotile asbestos. Cutting through a wall with asbestos containing black mastic with a hammer drill and chisel and hammer is a Class III asbestos operation but a regulated area was not established by the subcontractor. This condition exposed the three employees to an asbestos hazard.  (c) George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center at 500 S. Foothill, Salt Lake City, UT: On or about May 17, 2016, the employer did not ensure that employees were notified of the presence, location and quantity of asbestos containing material or presumed asbestos containing material. In a laundry room in Building 3 on the first floor in Zone C, two employees conducted a cleaning operation to abate debris from a Class III asbestos work conducted by a subcontractor with United Team Mechanical. The subcontractor employee had cut a hole through a wall for a drier vent with a hammer drill and chisel and hammer. While cutting the hole in the wall, the subcontractor employee cut through black mastic on wall boards. The employer had determined that the mastic on the wall board contained 6% chrysotile asbestos. This condition exposed employees to an asbestos hazard.  Abatement Note: Notification either shall be in writing, or shall consist of a personal communication between the owner and the person to whom notification must be given or their authorized representatives.

Issued

Nov 7, 2016

Abate by

Dec 12, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1101(k)(9)(vi): Training for employees performing Class IV operations did not include available information concerning the locations of thermal system insulation and surfacing asbestos containing material and/or presumed asbestos containing material, asbestos-containing flooring materials, or flooring material where the absence of asbestos has not yet been certified; and instruction in recognition of damage, deterioration, and delamination of asbestos containing building materials; and did not take at least 2 hours:  (a) George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center at 500 S. Foothill, Salt Lake City, UT: On or about May 16, 2016, the employer did not train each employee who performed Class I through IV asbestos operations. Two employees conducted coaxial cable installation with potential exposure to asbestos in the ceiling plenum of Building 3 on the first floor in Zone A. One of the employees came into contact and dislodged a 30 cubic inch section of thermal system insulation from a pipe elbow. Thermal system insulation is Presumed Asbestos Containing Material. The employer had determined a non-homogeneous mixture of off white coating, 40% plant fiber, 40% mineral wood in binder with perlite and 5% chrysotile asbestos in off white plaster with 20% mineral wood. The coaxial cable installation operation was Class IV asbestos work. This condition exposed employees to an asbestos hazard.  (b) George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center at 500 S. Foothill, Salt Lake City, UT: On or about May 17, 2016, the employer did not train each employee who performed Class I through IV asbestos operations. In a laundry room in Building 3 on the first floor in Zone C, two employees conducted a cleaning operation to abate debris from Class III asbestos work conducted by a subcontractor with United Team Mechanical. The subcontractor employee had cut a hole through a wall for a drier vent with a hammer drill and chisel and hammer. While cutting the hole in the wall, the subcontractor employee cut through black mastic on wall boards. The employer had determined that the mastic on the wall board contained 6% chrysotile asbestos. Cutting through a wall with asbestos containing black mastic with a hammer drill and chisel and hammer is Class III asbestos work. The cleaning operation was Class IV asbestos work. This condition exposed employees to an asbestos hazard.  Abatement Note: Such training shall be conducted at no cost to the employee. The employer shall institute a training program and ensure employee participation in the program.