Maintenance workers removing asbestos at Alderson-Broaddus College in Phillipi, West Virginia were not provided with respirators, protective clothing or the training needed to perform Class II asbestos work, according to OSHA, which has cited Sodexho Inc. with safety and health violations – 12 of them serious. OSHA initiated an inspection March 8 in response to a complaint. Proposed fines total $81,000.

The serious violations also include failing to inform workers of the location and quantities of asbestos-containing material; provide workers who voluntarily wear dust masks with Appendix D information of the Respirator Standard on the use of dusts masks or respirators; ensure that Class II asbestos work was conducted in regulated areas and supervised by a competent person; conduct daily monitoring to assess employee exposure and airborne concentration exposure; ensure proper disposal of ceiling tiles; ensure wet methods were used when conducting Class II asbestos work; and equip vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters.

Additionally, the company has been cited with one other-than-serious violation for recording inaccurate information in OSHA 300 injury and illness logs.

Sodexho Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., employs about 25 workers at Alderson-Broaddus College and is responsible for grounds work, housekeeping and security.