Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division Issues Costly Asbestos Penalties to Hotel in Waikiki

Recently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published information about eight citations and over $66,000 in penalties issued to a multinational hospitality company that runs hotels and resorts across the globe.

The citations and penalties came from the Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division (HIOSH) after the agency determined that workers performing maintenance and demolition activities on a hotel property in Waikiki were not informed about asbestos handling, personal protective equipment (PPE) and good work practices. The employer was also cited for failure to conduct periodic safety inspections and for not training workers on asbestos hazards and the proper use of respirators.

Throughout the Hawaiian Islands, asbestos can still be found in numerous commercial, residential and institutional properties. This is primarily due to its past use in thousands of common building materials. A few of the many materials that may contain asbestos include fireproofing materials; attic and wall insulation; vinyl floor tiles and the backing on vinyl sheet flooring; adhesives; roofing and siding shingles; textured paint and patching compounds used on walls and ceilings; and hot water and steam pipes coated with asbestos or covered with an asbestos blanket or tape.

“Demolition and remodeling activities can easily aerosolize asbestos fibers creating a hazard for workers and building occupants if the proper safety precautions are not in place,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “Exposure needs to be avoided at all times because asbestos can cause mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer that may not appear for decades. There are strict regulations for handling asbestos-containing materials in these types of circumstances and any failure to follow proper procedures could result in endangering people and costly noncompliance penalties, as occurred in Hawaii recently.”

Unless a building material is labeled, which is almost never the case, the only way to know if it contains asbestos fibers is to have it tested. EMSL Analytical, Inc., with laboratories across the United States and Canada, offers comprehensive asbestos testing services, sampling supplies and test kits. They also provide air monitoring instruments, along with respirators and other personal protective equipment to safely handle asbestos-containing materials.

To learn more about asbestos or other material and indoor environmental quality (IEQ) testing services and products, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email  info@EMSL.com . To access IEQ test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.


About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with over 46 locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP 797, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail