OSHA Fines Moving and Storage Company for Exposing Workers to Asbestos Hazards
Brantley Brothers Moving & Storage Co. Inc. was cited for 14 serious violations
Brantley Brothers Moving & Storage Co. Inc. has been cited for 14 serious violations by OSHA, according to a news release. This comes after an investigation by OSHA on Oct. 17, 2014, because of a complaint.
The company was cited for the following reasons: safety and health precautions (such as using a regulated area and personal protective equipment) were not in place for workers removing pipes and pipe insulation containing asbestos; asbestos was not identified and labeled in the storage warehouse; employees were not trained on the proper handling of asbestos and related health hazards; workers were exposed to fire hazards due to improperly maintained exit routes.
"In 2015, nobody should be surprised to learn that asbestos exposure is dangerous,” said Kris Hoffman, director of OSHA's Parsippany Area Office. “Brantley Brothers required its employees to remove dry asbestos from piping without any personal protection equipment. Asbestos exposure can cause cancer and asbestosis, which is a serious lung disease, so having untrained and unprotected workers conduct such work is both irresponsible and totally unacceptable."