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| English: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum Licensing: Category:Images of Long Island (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
OSHA opened the inspection due to employee complaints. Investigators found that maintenance workers and electricians were exposed to asbestos or materials potentially containing asbestos while working in various locations - including the coliseum's ice plant, catwalks, and a loading dock - and that SMG did not take adequate steps to address the hazards.
Obviously, from this information it seems that SMG was unaware (or ignored) the dangers their workers faced in working at the Coliseum. This is not a good thing for Nassau County as the owners of the Coliseum. This brings into question what information did Nassau County pass along to SMG to make sure SMG protected their employees. This opens up Nassau County for a third party litigation lawsuit. Remember previous articles written about this issue indicated at least two workers (one with mesothelioma and the other with stage four lung cancer) were potentially exposed to asbestos and that a total of 75 arena employees may have been exposed.
One of the most damning statements on the press release was "Specifically, SMG did not identify the presence, location and quantity of materials containing or potentially containing asbestos, use engineering controls and work practices to reduce exposure levels, ensure that all Class III asbestos work (such as repair and maintenance operations where materials presumed to contain asbestos are disturbed) was conducted in regulated areas, ensure proper respirator use, post warning signs and provide asbestos awareness training for workers." Nassau County as the owner of the Coliseum, also has liabilities in informing SMG of the asbestos containing materials located at the Coliseum. It seems to us that this isn't the last we will be hearing about the asbestos at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
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