KDHE Home - News 2000 - News Release
Kansas
Department of Health & Environment
Bill Graves, Governor
Clyde D. Graeber, Secretary
For Immediate Release
Contact: Sharon Watson, 785-296-5795
State Fines Asbestos Contractor for Violations
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has fined Basic Industries, Inc., a Baton Rouge, La. asbestos contracting firm $3,000 for violating state asbestos regulations.
From January 27 through February 25, 2000, the company performed asbestos abatement for the demolition of a cafeteria building at the Jayhawk Fine Chemicals plant, 8545 SE Jayhawk Drive, in Galena.
Normally, water containing a wetting agent is applied to asbestos-containing material during demolition so that the material remains wet long enough for workers to safely dispose of it into sealed containers. Asbestos particles become a health hazard when they become airborne and are inhaled. The wetting-down process at demolition sites is required by state law to minimize this hazard.
A KDHE representative visited the cafeteria building site on February 8 and observed asbestos-containing material scattered throughout the work area. The material appeared to have once been wetted down as required, but had since dried out. The material had also not been placed into sealed containers while wet. A site supervisor confirmed that a wetting agent was not being added to the water that had been applied to the material.
Basic Industries, Inc. has until November 20 to appeal the fine.
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