An Albuquerque asbestos removal company is facing more than $25,000 in penalties from the state for serious workplace safety violations.
According to state records, inspectors recently discovered that the company, Asbestos Experts, failed to properly monitor workers’ exposure to asbestos and enforce safe work practices. Regulators allege that the company didn’t keep accurate records of asbestos monitoring and failed to conduct the required daily air monitoring.
The company also allegedly neglected to provide employees with the results of asbestos exposure tests.
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that was widely used in the past for construction and industrial products. It used to be a common material used for insulation because it’s heat-resistant, strong and cheap. But the material is rarely used today and it’s heavily regulated. That’s because it contains tiny thin fibers that easily become airborne. When inhaled, these fibers can cause serious health problems in the lungs. Asbestos exposure is a well-documented cause of lung disease and cancer.
The state’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau labeled all four violations as “serious,” and leveled three fines of $6,622 each and one fine of $5,628, totaling $25,494.
