The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has sued CMM Realty Inc. for allegedly firing an employee who voiced and reported workplace and environmental concerns regarding asbestos at one of the company's worksites.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, Columbia Division, alleges that the company violated the Occupational Safety and Health Act when it terminated the individual's employment. OSHA is asking that the court provide him all appropriate relief, including reinstatement to his former position, back pay, interest and compensatory damages, as well as prohibit the defendant from future violations.
On May 13, 2009, the employee voiced concerns to the owner of CMM Realty concerning asbestos exposure at the company's Briargate Condominiums. The following day, he filed complaints with the South Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Conservations. Both agencies conducted inspections and issued citations against CMM Realty for violating asbestos control standards. On that same day, the employee was informed that his services were no longer needed. On May 18, he was notified officially of his termination from the company.
In June 2009, the employee filed a whistleblower complaint with OSHA. After conducting an investigation, the agency found that CMM Realty unlawfully had terminated the individual's employment for reporting concerns to management about exposure to asbestos and for filing complaints with the two state agencies. In November 2010, OSHA enforced the whistleblower provisions of the Clean Air Act by ordering the company to reinstate the whistleblower and pay him $56,222 in compensatory damages and back wages, which continue to accumulate while he is out of work. The company appealed that order to the department's Office of Administrative Law Judges, where it awaits review.
OSHA is now suing the company in federal court for violating Section 11(c) of the OSH Act, which forbids companies from discriminating against an employee because he or she has filed a complaint with OSHA.
CMM Realty Inc. is a real estate management corporation with its main office in Columbia, S.C.
OSHA is represented in federal district court by the Labor Department's Office of the Solicitor.
Future Environment Designs Training Center specializes in asbestos, indoor air quality, industrial hygiene, and occupational safety training programs. We offer New York State asbestos and mold certification courses. We design, develop, and maintain the various indoor air quality, asbestos, and safety programs that are Keeping Your Employees Safe.
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Friday, July 08, 2011
Thursday, July 07, 2011
North Country Chamber of Commerce's Business Expo a Success
FED Booth at the North Country Business Expo |
The 186 exhibitors ranged from Champlain Vally Hospital, AT&T, to a local pharmacy. Some interesting included Nova Bus, Lake City Fire Equipment, and the Wild Center. Lake City Fire Equipment (www.lakecityfireequipment.com) does training, service, sale, and inspection of fire extinguishers. While The Wild Center (http://wildcenter.org/index.php) is a not-for-profit organization located on a 31-acre site in the Town of Tupper Lake, NY near the geographic center of the Adirondack Park. The Wild Center is dedicated to understanding the Adirondack Park, and is committed to helping people explore not a small collection, but one that lives and breathes across the entire expanse of the Adirondacks.
Though the venue was very hot and stifling at times, we had a great event and made several new contacts. We set several goals for the Business Expo to assist our business (primary goal was to increase the contacts we had in the area), and we feel these goals were accomplished, making this a very worthwhile event.
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Wednesday, July 06, 2011
EPA Issues Press Release On Reducing Asthma Attacks During Summer
Image via WikipediaThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that hot weather can cause ozone levels to rise, making the air unhealthy to breathe, especially for people with asthma or other respiratory ailments. Throughout the hot summer months, it’s important to pay close attention to the air quality. Like the weather, air quality can change from day to day or even hour to hour, and can have a serious affect on people’s health.
For information on EPA’s regional asthma program and other asthma triggers please see: http://www.epa.gov/asthma/awm
The Air Quality Index uses a color-coded system to display whether the five major air pollutants exceed air quality standards for the day. When the Air Quality Index reports unhealthy levels, people, particularly asthmatics and others with respiratory ailments, should limit strenuous outdoor activities.
During the summer when ozone levels rise, the number of people with asthma related symptoms admitted to hospitals and emergency rooms increases. Asthma rates – especially among children – have increased dramatically. Asthma affects 25 million people in the United States, including seven million children. That’s 8 percent of the population. One out of every 10 school-aged children is affected. In addition to talking with health care providers, these steps can help prevent an asthma episode:
- Play it safe. Ground-level ozone and particle pollution can make an asthma episode even worse. Look for the Air Quality Index (AQI) during the local weather report or go to EPA’s website http://www.airnow.gov
- Don’t smoke in the home. Take it outside. One of the most common asthma triggers in the home is second- hand smoke. Take the EPA ‘smoke-free home’ pledge: http://www.epa.gov/smokefree
- Break the mold. Mold is another asthma trigger. The key to controlling mold is controlling moisture. Wash and dry hard surfaces to prevent and remove mold. Remove, and if possible replace, moldy ceiling tiles and carpet. For more see EPA’s website: http://www.epa.gov/asthma/molds.html
For information on EPA’s regional asthma program and other asthma triggers please see: http://www.epa.gov/asthma/awm
To hear an audio podcast about asthma: http://www.epa.gov/region2/mediacenter/podcast.html
Related articles
- OSHA Updates Indoor Air Quality Guide (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- OSHA New Heat Illness Web Page (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- The Link Between Air Pollution and Asthma (everydayhealth.com)
- The Asthma Epidemic (sjeddington.wordpress.com)
- Hot, Muggy Weather Hits New York; Air Quality Alert Issued (newyork.cbslocal.com)
- What weather conditions bring out asthma symptoms? (zocdoc.com)
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
Canada Blocks Asbestos's Placement on UN's List of Hazardous Substances
Kathleen Ruff wrote an excellent piece in the June Newsletter of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) regarding "Canada's Refused to Allow Asbestos to be Put on United Nations List of Hazardous Substances." Ms. Ruff's article discusses what occurred at the UN Conference in Geneva June 20 to 24, where more than a hundred countries present were on the point of achieving consensus to add chrysotile asbestos to the Rotterdam Convention's list of hazardous substances. Countries can still export substances on the list, but they must first obtain Prior Informed Consent.
The asbestos lobby has used its political power over the past several years to prevent chrysotile asbestos from being put on the list of hazardous substances, as they deny that chrysotile asbestos is hazardous. So at the meeting in Geneva, Canada again intervened and would not agree to letting chrysotile asbestos be put on the Convention's list of hazardous substances. Canada, single-handedly, destroyed consensus and prevented action on chrysotile asbestos. According to Ms. Ruff, Canada refused to give any reason for its immoral and destructive conduct in sabotaging the Convention. As a consequence, the asbestos industry can continue selling asbestos to developing countries, without giving any information of its hazards.
Related articles
- Oh Canada: Government Blocks Listing of Asbestos as Hazardous Export While Removing Asbestos From Parliament Buildings (jonathanturley.org)
- Ex-cabinet minister Strahl urges Tories to act on asbestos (globaltvbc.com)
- Asbestos: Canada is spending millions to remove it from politicians' offices while exporting it by the ton. (slate.com)
- Chrysotile Asbestos: Harper Government Defends Carcinogen Despite Rotterdam Pressure (huffingtonpost.ca)
- Canada wins battle to keep asbestos off hazardous list (cbc.ca)
- Daily Show Exposes Asbestos Hypocrisy in Quebec Canada (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Quebec Government Decides to Back Loan to Restart Asbestos Mine (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- First Quebec, Now Zimbabwe (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Asbestos Dangers Crop Up In Japan's Disaster (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Controversy Regarding Brodeur's Asbestos Research Information at The New York Public Library. (futureenv.blogspot.com)
Friday, July 01, 2011
Happy 4th of July Weekend
Image via Wikipedia
We wish all of you a Happy and Safe 4th of July weekend. May it be loaded with good friends and family, exploding with happiness and joy, and the bright lights of sunny days and sparkling nights. We also salute our troops this weekend, who are responsible for the freedom and liberty we enjoy this weekend. Hail to the Troops!Related articles
- History center to welcome guest speaker July 7 (denpubs.com)
- Fourth of July Celebrations (billshrink.com)
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