The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Wednesday that it cited a Chicago demolition subcontractor for 36 safety and health violations after federal investigators determined it exposed workers to asbestos hazards in November 2023.
OSHA cited K.L.F. Enterprises for “willful” and other violations after inspectors discovered that the company had a building survey showing that a hospital its employees were demolishing contained asbestos for fireproofing but that K.L.F. failed to inform workers about the dangers.
The agency issued the company $392,002 in penalties.
OSHA said K.L.F. also failed to notify the demolition site’s general contractor, Chicago-based Reed Illinois Corp., doing business as Reed Construction, and the building’s owner, V. Covington LLC of Waukegan, of the discovery of asbestos during demolition.
OSHA additionally cited Reed Construction for not ensuring its subcontractors met federal health and safety standards, and the agency proposed $32,262 in penalties.
V. Covington was cited for a serious violation and issued a proposed penalty of $16,131 for failing to ensure K.L.F. Enterprises and another subcontractor, Alliance Environmental Control Inc., complied with a federal asbestos standard.
Lansing, Illinois-based Alliance Environmental was issued a citation for a serious violation and faces a proposed penalty of $6,452.
All companies have 15 business days to contest the citations and proposed penalties.