The United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued a citation to the Frontier El Dorado Refining Co. of El Dorado, Kansas for two willful violations of federal health and safety standards. OSHA has proposed fines totaling $140,000 as penalty for the violations.

OSHA inspected the premises of the Frontier El Dorado Refining Co. on March 25, after the agency received several complaints that employees at the refinery were in danger of asbestos exposure.

Approximately 100 employees working for subcontractors were exposed to airborne asbestos that was being emitted from thermal insulation. The Frontier El Dorado Refining Co. is the owner of the facility where the work was carried out and acted as the general contractor for the project.

A major concern for the employees exposed to asbestos is the risk of developing asbestos-related disease, such as asbestosis or mesothelioma cancer. Asbestosis is a progressive pulmonary disorder, whereas malignant mesothelioma is a rare cancer that typically affects the mesothelial lining of the lungs, heart, or abdomen. Unfortunately, a cure for this cancer has yet to be established, and as a result, mesothelioma treatments tend to palliative in nature.

Charles E. Adkins, the OSHA’s regional administrator in Kansas City, said, “Our inspection revealed Frontier El Dorado Refining Co. did not require subcontractors at its facility to comply with OSHA regulations while handling asbestos-containing material. Employers must remain dedicated to keeping the workplace safe and healthful for all employees at its facility.”

The violations committed by the refining company include failure to comply with an OSHA asbestos standard for construction and failing to notify employees about the presence, location, and quantity of asbestos they were working with. Willful violations are defined as those which are committed with either intentional disregard of, or indifference to, OSHA requirements and regulations.

Now that the citation has been issued, the Frontier El Dorado Refining Co. has 15 business days to comply and pay the penalties for violations. They may also request an informal conference with OSHA representatives to discuss the violations, or contest the penalties and citations before an independent OSHA review commission.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the only time the Frontier El Dorado Refining Co. has been cited by OSHA. The company was cited in December 2007 for 18 serious violations and one willful violation, with penalties totaling $153,500.

Currently the company is contesting the violations it received last year.

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 4th, 2008 at 12:33 pm and is filed under Asbestos Exposure. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Responses are currently closed, but you trackback from your own site.