OSHA Cites Ford’s Buffalo, N.Y., Plant Over Asbestos

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Federal safety officials have cited Ford Motor Co.’s Buffalo-area plant for alleged asbestos violations.

The Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed fines of $41,800.

OSHA officials say inspectors found eight violations. One involved a pipefitter who they say was exposed to asbestos while working on a steam line. In other cases, OSHA says workers didn’t wear respiratory protection while exposed to asbestos and that the company did not properly monitor work areas for the potentially cancer-causing substance.

Ford has 15 business days to respond. The Dearborn, Mich.-based automaker didn’t initially respond to a request for comment last Wednesday.