Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002D Hazard:

29 CFR 1926.1101(l)(4)(i):Waste and debris and accompanying dust in an area containing accessible thermal system, surfacing asbestos containing material (ACM) or presumed asbestos containing material, or visibly deteriorated ACM was dusted or swept dry, or vacuumed without using a HEPA filter. Location: Worksite On or about November 20, 2024, employees were exposed to asbestos hazards when the asbestos-containing floor tiles in the stock room were disturbed in order to unblock the doorway access between the stock room and battery room, where the employer did not ensure that a vacuum with HEPA filter was used to clean up dust and debris during the operation. The operation exposed and disturbed an area of approximately 31.5" x 34" of the stock room floor tiles containing 10% chrysotile asbestos and created dust and debris when a sawzall was used to cut a desk that was standing on the floor, causing vibration in the floor tiles. Additional disturbance was caused by removing desk portions and desk legs, by dragging a cabinet over the area, and by employees walking back and forth over the exposed asbestos-containing floor tiles to move vehicle parts and batteries from one room to the other. The employer has previously failed to use a vacuum cleaner with high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to collect all debris and dust created in all operations covered by 29 CFR 1926.1101, as seen below in prior violations (cited under the alternative OSHA General Industry standard): a.) The U. S. Postal Service was previously cited for a Repeat-Serious violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1001(k)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1640228, citation number 2, item number 1, and for a Serious violation of equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1001(k)(4), citation 1, item number 1, with an inspection date of 12/15/2022, with respect to a workplace located at 1020 SE 7th Ave., Portland, OR 97214. b.) The U. S. Postal Service was previously cited for a Repeat-Serious violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1001(k)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1637632, citation number 1, item number 2 , with an inspection date of 12/7/2022, with respect to a workplace located at 2130 N Kilpatrick St, Portland, OR 97217. c.) The U. S. Postal Service was previously cited for a Serious violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1001(k)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1537592, citation number 1, item number 3a and was affirmed as a final order on 09/14/2022, with respect to a workplace located at 3775 Industrial Blvd, West Sacramento CA 95799. d.) The U. S. Postal Service was previously cited for a Repeat-Serious violation of this occupational safety and health standard, or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1001(k)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1368195 citation number 1 item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on 11/6/2020 with respect to a workplace located at 5108 West 74th Street Edina, MN 55435. e.) The U. S. Postal Service was previously cited for a Serious violation of this occupational safety and health standard, or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1001(k)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1367868 citation number 1 item number 1a, and its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1001(k)(8) under citation number 1 item number 1b, and was affirmed as a final order on 11/5/2020 with respect to a workplace located at 4048 Lakeland Avenue North Robbinsdale, MN 55422.