A Chicago company failed to take proper precautions with asbestos during the company’s demolition work at a Waukegan hospital, the U.S. Department of Labor said Wednesday.
The agency said it issued 36 violations to K.L.F. Enterprises after an investigation that began last year.
The company knowingly exposed its workers to asbestos during its demolition work at Lakes Behavioral Health hospital, the labor department said.
The department said it began an investigation in November after observing company workers not wearing protective gear as they worked near piles of debris that contained asbestos.
Investigators from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration said the company continued work at the site despite recognizing the presence of asbestos, and it failed to use appropriate measures to protect workers from the known carcinogen.
“K.L.F. Enterprises’ decision not to stop work immediately or ensure appropriate control measures were followed when asbestos was clearly visible exposed these employees to a highly carcinogenic material with the potential for permanent, negative long-term health outcomes,” Chicago North OSHA Area Director Sukhvir Kaur said.
“We will hold companies accountable when they fail in their duty to protect the safety and health of their employees,” Kaur said.
The agency said K.L.F. had building plans that showed the extensive use of asbestos at the hospital for fireproofing. However, the company failed to notify workers, the general contractor or the building’s owner, the labor department said.
OSHA said it cited the owner and the general contractor for failing to ensure K.L.F. followed federal standards for asbestos abatement.
