By Megan Decker
Staff Writer
VASSAR — The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Admini-stration (MiOSHA) has recently amended its decision regarding citations issued to Vassar Public Schools for alleged violations of asbestos regulations.
On Feb. 17, MiOSHA issued eight citations to Vassar Public Schools for improper removal of floor tiles in the high school’s media center. On Feb. 27, the district filed a petition for modification or dismissal of the citations.
According to Vassar Superintendent Thomas Palmer, the district’s employee who removed the tiling was asbestos certified, however it was found that he did not have the proper level of certification.
The asbestos remained contained in the compacted tiling during the removal process and was never airborne in the environment, Palmer added.
“Had MiOSHA found that the asbestos was airborne in our environment they would have immediately closed the building,” Palmer said.
Although students did assist in the moving of books and furniture during the media center renovation, they were not involved in the removal of the carpeting, High School Principal Jason Kiss explained.
MiOSHA’s original fine to the district amounted to $12,000, but after grouping several of the violations and vacating another, the penalty was reduced to $1,800.