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| State prison fined for asbestos violations |
| By Mesothelioma News |
| Published: 10/13/2008 |
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WASHINGTON - The Washington Department of Labor and Industries has fined McNeil Island State Prison $24,800 for “willful” and “serious” asbestos violations that resulted in at least 8 inmates, 8 prison employees and a flooring crew being exposed to airborne asbestos in 2007. Despite complaints and concerns from the inmates, supervisors forced them to remove asbestos-containing vinyl floor tiles held down with asbestos cement—with no respiratory protection or other precautions. Prison officials claim they thought everything was okay and that asbestos regulations didn’t apply to the work, although the prison does not contest the facts set out by the Department of Labor and Industries. Two supervisors on the project were certified to handle asbestos abatement and should have known how to handle the asbestos removal; they remain Department of Corrections employees and have not received any disciplinary action for their part in the asbestos violations. Apparently, the inmates working on the project were more aware of the danger than the supervisors, but they had no power to protect themselves. Inmates were told the materials were asbestos containing but that they weren’t dangerous. And inmates who asked to use water to keep down the dust were told dust control wasn’t needed. Read more. If link has expired, check the website of the article's original news source. |
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