Protecting New York Workers and Residents from Mercury Poisoning Hazards

Last month, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) announced that a remediation contractor from Schenectady has been fined over $140,000 for exposing workers to mercury poisoning and for not providing the proper employee safeguards.
 
According to the OSHA news release, the employees were removing liquid mercury and mercury-contaminated soil and wood from the third and fourth floors of a former industrial plant. OSHA’s inspection found that several employees inhaled or absorbed excessive levels of mercury vapor or liquid mercury. Biological monitoring confirmed the workers had symptoms consistent with respiratory mercury exposure. These symptoms often include neurological impairment, fever, fatigue, memory loss, tremor, feeling pins and needles in the skin, and damage to the gums and skin. The company also failed to protect their workers by not training them on safe work practices or providing an appropriate selection of personal protective equipment (PPE) among other health and safety issues.
 
“Mercury is a neurotoxin and both workers and the public need to be protected from exposure to heavy metals and their compounds,” said Michael Berrevoets, President, VOETS, LLC. “At VOETS we offer mercury testing, consulting, and training services. These and other industrial hygiene and environmental, health, and safety services offered by VOETS not only protect people from needless exposure risks, they also help to ensure companies are in regulatory compliance. We are pleased to offer these services to companies and institutions located in New York and across the tri-state area.”
 
To learn more about VOETS and their occupational, industrial hygiene, indoor air quality (IAQ), environmental, health, and safety testing and consulting services, please visit www.VOETS.nyc, email michael@VOETS.nyc , or call (212) 860-7450.
 
About Verification, Operations, and Environmental Testing Services (VOETS, LLC)
VOETS, LLC began operations in 2016 with some of the most seasoned professional indoor environmental quality consultants in the nation. They bring a proven track record of identifying and resolving a wide range of building science, industrial hygiene, and construction health and safety issues.  VOETS offers environmental compliance, indoor air quality, mold, asbestos, lead-based paint, Legionella, environmental site assessments (ESAs), training, and industrial hygiene consulting services. The company specializes in field investigations and assessments of commercial, institutional, healthcare, and residential buildings throughout New York City and the tri-state area.
 

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Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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