DEQ penalizes Professional Minority Group for asbestos abatement violations at residential worksite in Estacada
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued a $12,000 penalty to Professional Minority Group for failing to apply wet methods while removing vinyl floor tiles from a residential building at 36201 Tumala Mountain Road in Estacada.
Professional Minority Group, Inc. is a licensed abatement contractor. On September 15, 2015, the company removed and stripped approximately 700 square-feet of vinyl floor tile, breaking the material into small pieces without implementation of the required application of wet methods during the removal and/or packaging process. The tiles contained approximately 3 percent chrysotile asbestos by weight.
State law requires workers to dampen asbestos-containing material to prevent fibers from going airborne. The company also failed to adequately enclose the project to prevent fibers from leaving the work site.
DEQ issued the penalty because failing to properly dampen asbestos-containing material can cause the release of asbestos fibers into the air and expose workers and the public to a health threat. Asbestos fibers are a respiratory hazard proven to cause lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis.
Professional Minority Group has appealed the penalty.
View the notice of civil penalty at:
http://www.oregon.gov/deq/nr/030116pmgE.pdf
Contact:
Kieran O’Donnell, Environmental Law Specialist, Portland, 503-229-5012, odonnell.kieran@deq.state.or.us
Zeb Bates, Asbestos Control Analyst, Portland, 503-229-5364, bates.zebuliah@deq.state.or.us