US Steel Fined $170K for Multiple Asbestos Violations

Despite the well-known dangers of deadly asbestos, its removal from most job sites and legal actions against companies using the substance, many U.S. workers still face the perils of exposure when they enter their workplace each day. Scott Allen, regional director for public affairs at the U.S. Department of Labor, told Asbestos.com the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issues hundreds of citations annually to companies that violate asbestos regulations. Citations range from improper handling and disposal of asbestos-containing products to employees not trained to handle the substance. The most recent offender: U.S. Steel Corp. OSHA slammed the Pittsburgh-based steel giant with a $170,000 citation. “Twice in about a month, United States Steel Corp. gave seven employees tasks that exposed them to asbestos, a widely recognized hazard associated with serious and fatal health risks including lung cancer,” according to an OSHA press release. “This is the second time since 2011 that OSHA has cited U.S. Steel Corp. for exposing employees to asbestos hazards.” Besides lung cancer, asbestos causes mesothelioma. Recent Asbestos Problems at US Steel OSHA records show officials launched an inspection March 16 of Pittsburgh’s Clairton Coke Works — the nation’s largest producer of coke, a fuel made from coal. Earlier in March, two coke workers burned and removed a deteriorated section of pipe that later tested positive for asbestos...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: news