State Fines Hospital For Safety Violations

The state has fined Deaconess Medical Center $29,700, saying the hospital violated worker safety standards during asbestos-removal work, a Department of Labor and Industries spokesman said Wednesday.

Investigators found the Spokane hospital committed one willful violation and five serious violations during work last June at the hospital’s intern lounge in Letterman Lanning Hall, agency spokesman Steve Valandra said.

The hospital has 15 days to appeal the fine, he said.

Deaconess spokeswoman Priscilla Gilkey said the hospital is reviewing the claims.

“We do have an opportunity to respond,” Gilkey said.

The hospital was fined $20,000 for the willful violation. Investigators concluded a worker had been assigned to remove asbestos from ceiling tiles even though he was not state-certified to do so, Valandra said.

Exposure to the substance, once commonly used as a roofing and insulating material, can cause cancer and other fatal lung diseases.

Among other things, the hospital also was cited for failing to require workers to wear proper protective equipment and for not taking precautions to prevent the release of airborne asbestos fibers, Valandra said.

The penalty included four $2,000 citations and one $1,700 citation.

, DataTimes