7 Companies Fined for Asbestos Exposure in San Antonio

The dangers of asbestos exposure became commonly known back in the 1960’s and here we are  50 years later still hearing reports of how companies are continuing to expose their employees to asbestos with no regard to the potential development of mesothelioma. Sadly, there has been another report issued regarding 7 different companies that have been fined for exposing their employees to the toxic dust.

The exposure took place at a construction work site located in San Antonio, Texas. The penalties that have been proposed for these asbestos exposure citations are around $148,000. It was reported by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration that three of the contractors were base out of Miami, Florida, while the other four were subcontractors that were based out of San Antonio. They also reported there were 45 different violations that the companies were cited for that were all classified as serious in nature, except for one that was classified as less serious in nature.

The Texas Department of State Health Services was the referring agency in the matter, which resulted in OSHA coming in to provide an inspection in March of 2012. The construction site was located at the apartment complex, Reserves at Pecan Valley, at its East Southcross Boulevard location. OSHA reported that upon inspecting the location it was discovered that the apartment complex was being remodeled by workers that were not wearing the proper safety gear required to be protected from asbestos exposure.

The following asbestos exposure violations were cited:

• Failing to ensure that employees work in regulated areas
• Failing to make sure that an assessment was done regarding the asbestos exposure by a qualified person
• Failing to monitor the air for asbestos exposure
• Failing to remove or reduce asbestos exposure and hazards
• Failing to train their employees on the hazards of working with asbestos
• Failing to use the required engineering controls to prevent the asbestos exposure
• Failing to use the required respiratory as well as personal protective equipment

A violation is classified as serious when a probability of death is substantial or when there can be harm of a serious nature due to a hazard in which the employer should have been aware of or was aware of.

The contractors based out of Miami were cited for 14 violations in total. A citation of $36,000 was issued to Newport Property Ventures LLC that included 8 serious violations and 1 that was not classified as a serious violation. Newport Property Construction LLC received a fine of $12,600 for 2 violations that were considered serous. Jamesboys Inc. received an $18,900 fine for 3 violations that were classified as serious.

The contractors based out of San Antonio were cited for a total of 32 asbestos exposure violations, and over $80,000 in fines.

Sadly, the ramifications of the asbestos exposure that the employees suffered, as well as the general population that may have been exposed for just being in that San Antonio area, will likely not surface for 20-30 years as that is generally how long it takes to develop mesothelioma.

If you were exposed to asbestos and developed mesothelioma as a result it is not too late to file a mesothelioma lawsuit. Visit the Mesothelioma Asbestos Class Action Lawsuit Settlement Investigation page right away to receive a free legal review from a qualified mesothelioma lawsuit lawyer.