Menomonie, WI-The Wisconsin Department of Commerce has charged the University of Wisconsin-Stout (UW-Stout) with seven counts of asbestos violations on Wednesday, December 30, 2009, which stemmed from a 2009 campus project. The Department of Commerce originally charged the university with 50 asbestos violations, but later reduced the charges after the department revised its inspection report, as reported by The Daily Reporter.
According to the department's inspection reports, the violations arose from construction projects that were being conducted in five of the University of Wisconsin's buildings. Workers reportedly did not routinely inspect the construction work that was being conducted in the Jarvis Hall science and engineering building. In addition, state inspectors discovered several bags that contained asbestos-containing materials in a Jarvis Hall room that reportedly had been cleared of the hazardous materials. The report also stated that workers allegedly were required to work in areas were asbestos was present without proper protection. The university also allegedly allowed people to utilize the Jarvis Hall elevator, which was used to transport asbestos-containing debris, without conducting safety testing. Workers also apparently dismantled water tanks that had asbestos-containing insulation in the Bowman Hall building. The construction workers were reportedly not following safety guidelines and were not wearing respirators, which is required by state laws and regulations and by UW-Stout rules.
The University of Wisconsin-Stout was ordered by the department to train employees in asbestos safety, to prevent untrained employees from handling asbestos, to conduct air quality monitoring on future projects at the university, and to post warning signs outside of rooms where asbestos-containing materials are present. UW-Stout stated they will meet the department's demands, and they are planning to meet with department officials to discuss the violations. Due to the reduction in the number of violations that were originally assessed to the university, the department has drawn protests from state employee organizations, like the Wisconsin Science Professionals union, who accuse the state of Wisconsin of attempting to cover up the asbestos violations.
News article by Asbestos Mesothelioma litigation attorneys: Cooney & Conway.
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