The Chehalis Inn & Suites in Washington State has been fined $97,810 for worker safety and health violations including exposing employees to infectious diseases, corrosive chemicals and carcinogenic asbestos.
The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) cited the hotel for a total of 31 violations. The citations are the result of two inspections that began in August.
Four of the issues the inn was cited for are considered “repeat-serious” violations because they’re the exact same violations that were found during a July 2013 inspection.
They include three repeat-serious violations for potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens from hypodermic needles or other infectious material.
The fourth repeat-serious violation involves the lack of an emergency eyewash and training for employees who work with corrosive cleaning products and pool chemicals.
Along with the repeat violations, L&I cited the facility for 11 serious violations for asbestos exposure during renovation work at the hotel.
During the inspections, the agency discovered 16 other serious and general violations as well, including an unstable second-floor walkway with damaged railing and rotted areas that exposed workers to the possibility of a fall of over eight feet onto an asphalt parking lot. Exposed wires, improperly grounded electrical equipment and other electrical hazards were also found.
Safety Meetings Not Held
The hotel wasn’t holding monthly safety meetings for workers, failed to log work-related injuries and illnesses, and did not ensure that employees were trained on how to use a portable fire extinguisher.
Serious violations are cited for hazards where there’s a possibility of serious injury or death. General violations are the lowest level, involving safety issues where there is no possibility of serious injury or death.
The employer was given 15 working days to appeal the citation.
Penalty money paid as a result of a citation is placed in the workers compensation supplemental pension fund, helping workers and families o
Author Kori Shafer-Stack, Editor, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is an expert in post-injury response procedures and part of the Amaxx team helping companies reduce their workers compensation costs by 20% to 50%. www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com. Contact: kstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.
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f those who have died on the job.
