Contractor fined for hospital asbestos removal job

DANVERS, MA — Contractor William A. Berry & Son Inc. has been cited for multiple violations of health and safety codes established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for the protection of workers and may face up to $136,000 in fines as a result, according to Mesothelioma News.

OSHA inspectors found that employees of the company worked in hazardous conditions during an asbestos abatement project at Boston’s Beth Israel Hospital in September 2009, the article stated.

Some of the violations include failing to monitor the work area for exposure risk on a daily basis, failure to provide protective gear and clothing, using workers not specifically trained for asbestos abatement work and inadequate supervision, the article noted.