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A pair of Hannibal Fire Department building renovation projects have been cited by the state this year for not having had sufficient asbestos inspections performed before work commenced.
In January, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources conducted an inspection of the former KHQA building at 2333 Palmyra Road, which is being renovated by the HFD to serve as its administrative headquarters. Last month, the DNR performed an inspection of Hannibal Fire Station 3, 3300 Arapaho St., a portion of which is being renovated by Bleigh Construction. In both instances, the HFD was cited for violations in regard to having adequate asbestos inspections performed before the work began. In neither instance was the HFD fined. However, Bleigh Construction was fined a total of $7,000 for a pair of asbestos-related violations.
“That’s the highest penalty in the serious category without going up to the ‘willful’ or ‘repeat’ category. Obviously there was no justification for a willful or repeat violation,” said Chester Razer, assistant area director for Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Bleigh had 15 working days after receipt of the citations to contest the case, meet with OSHA representatives to resolve the case without contesting it or pay the penalties and remove the hazard. As of Friday morning, Razer said the company had not indicated a course of action.
Contacted Friday, Louis Vannatta, general manager for Bleigh, said no decision has been made in regard to whether a meeting with OSHA will be requested. That determination will be made Monday after Vannatta speaks with Larry Davidson, another of OSHA’s assistant area directors.
Arapaho violation
In the Arapaho case, the violations stemmed from the removal of approximately 500 square feet of floor tile and mastic containing asbestos from the building prior to it being inspected for the presence of asbestos. According to the investigation report, the floor tile was removed Aug. 12 from the station’s kitchen area which is being remodeled.
Initially, removal of the floor tiles was not a part of the project, says Fire Chief Tim Carter. However, when the tiles were discovered to be loose and not stuck to the concrete floor they were removed by Bleigh workers. Vannatta told investigator Steve Boone that the floor tile needed to be removed in order to have a good base for the new floor. After the removal took place it was realized that an asbestos inspection had not been done. At that time the work area was sealed off.
Bleigh then hired Klingner and Associates to collect asbestos samples of the floor tile and mastic. It was determined that 8 percent of the floor tile contained Chrysotile asbestos. The black mastic was found to have 3 percent Chrysotile asbestos. Because the items contained asbestos, an asbestos contractor was hired and air samples throughout the station were collected. In each location where samples were taken the fiber content was found to be within permissible exposure limits set by OSHA.
A pair of Hannibal Fire Department building renovation projects have been cited by the state this year for not having had sufficient asbestos inspections performed before work commenced.
In January, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources conducted an inspection of the former KHQA building at 2333 Palmyra Road, which is being renovated by the HFD to serve as its administrative headquarters. Last month, the DNR performed an inspection of Hannibal Fire Station 3, 3300 Arapaho St., a portion of which is being renovated by Bleigh Construction. In both instances, the HFD was cited for violations in regard to having adequate asbestos inspections performed before the work began. In neither instance was the HFD fined. However, Bleigh Construction was fined a total of $7,000 for a pair of asbestos-related violations.
“That’s the highest penalty in the serious category without going up to the ‘willful’ or ‘repeat’ category. Obviously there was no justification for a willful or repeat violation,” said Chester Razer, assistant area director for Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Bleigh had 15 working days after receipt of the citations to contest the case, meet with OSHA representatives to resolve the case without contesting it or pay the penalties and remove the hazard. As of Friday morning, Razer said the company had not indicated a course of action.
Contacted Friday, Louis Vannatta, general manager for Bleigh, said no decision has been made in regard to whether a meeting with OSHA will be requested. That determination will be made Monday after Vannatta speaks with Larry Davidson, another of OSHA’s assistant area directors.
Arapaho violation
In the Arapaho case, the violations stemmed from the removal of approximately 500 square feet of floor tile and mastic containing asbestos from the building prior to it being inspected for the presence of asbestos. According to the investigation report, the floor tile was removed Aug. 12 from the station’s kitchen area which is being remodeled.
Initially, removal of the floor tiles was not a part of the project, says Fire Chief Tim Carter. However, when the tiles were discovered to be loose and not stuck to the concrete floor they were removed by Bleigh workers. Vannatta told investigator Steve Boone that the floor tile needed to be removed in order to have a good base for the new floor. After the removal took place it was realized that an asbestos inspection had not been done. At that time the work area was sealed off.
Bleigh then hired Klingner and Associates to collect asbestos samples of the floor tile and mastic. It was determined that 8 percent of the floor tile contained Chrysotile asbestos. The black mastic was found to have 3 percent Chrysotile asbestos. Because the items contained asbestos, an asbestos contractor was hired and air samples throughout the station were collected. In each location where samples were taken the fiber content was found to be within permissible exposure limits set by OSHA.
No satisfaction
The station’s good fiber content report does not satisfy Dale DeLaPorte, who was among three firefighters on duty at Station 3 when the tiles were removed on Aug. 12.
“No, because he (Carter) did not know the quality of the air while we were living in the building for the five days after he started the renovation, nor did he go to the trouble of having the product inspected prior to the renovation so the fact that none of it may ever be a consequence to me in a health manner, the lack of concern on his part toward my well-being is very disturbing,” said DeLaPorte, who retired from the department on Aug. 30 after 20 years.
Carter noted that, according to the work contract, it was Bleigh’s and not the department’s responsibility to have the tile tested.
The chief also pointed out that even though preliminary air tests showed the station was safe, when concerns were raised almost a week later by the firefighters’ union, Carter ordered the station shut down until the final test results were received. As it turned out, Station 3 was empty for just a day.
“DNR determined it (asbestos) was non-friable and was abated correctly,” said Carter, adding that as a precaution three firefighters were sent for physicals to provide “baseline documentation” to protect their workman’s compensation rights should a health issue crop up in the future.
With the asbestos issued resolved at Station 3, renovation work has resumed. Carter anticipates the project being completed in two to three weeks.
Administration building
At the Palmyra Road building, the investigation was based on a report that work was being done by firefighters without an asbestos inspection.
“We had an inspection report, but we came in contact with asbestos that wasn’t identified in the inspection report,” said Carter.
According to the investigation report, the building was initially inspected July 30, 2008. Asbestos was identified in mastic under the floor tile, in rock panel above a water heater, in window glazing in the rear windows and in roofing tar on the upper roof. However, because the future use of the building was still to be determined, not all potential locations of asbestos were identified.
The letter of warning was issued after it was determined that 16 linear feet of asbestos air cell insulation was removed from the building prior to it being inspected for asbestos. According to the report, Carter said the initial asbestos inspection did not identify or sample the pipe insulation because it was hidden behind walls on one side of the garage and by equipment on the other side.
Carter says that abatement contractors were hired by the department to cleanup the asbestos after it was identified.
Lessons learned
DeLaPorte, who says he also was “involved heavily” in the cleanup at the KHQA building, wants the public to be aware of both situations.
“I think the citizens need to be aware of how things are being conducted and how the firefighters’ health does not appear to be at the top of the list of concerns,” he said.
Carter says the health of firefighters is a primary concern.
“I hope the biggest thing to come out of this is that we don’t have disregard for our employees’ health, safety and well-being,” he said. “We try to have the best equipment, like the bunker gear. We do fit testing for SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus). We provide a personal trainer to do cardiovascular exercises to initiate health and well-being. We do bi-annual physicals.”
