Two contractors working at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico may have to pay a total of $324,000 in fines for asbestos violations. Twelve different safety violations at the site have been associated with asbestos exposure to employees at the site. OSHA’s investigation into employee safety at the missile range followed a referral last summer from the New Mexico Environment Department, which reported that employees were not using protective gear or enclosures while digging out asbestos-containing concrete pipe from a military housing complex. The violations alleged against one or both contractors include failing to (1) have a competent person in charge of the asbestos work, (2) conduct necessary asbestos monitoring and keep the work within the compliance standards, (3) store asbestos materials in proper enclosures, (4) provide proper safety gear to employees and adequately train them, and/or (5) label asbestos-containing products.
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