The Franklin County Courthouse in November 2024 at 140 Main St. in Farmington. The county has been cited by the state for possible lead paint and dust exposure during a window replacement project earlier this spring. Donna M. Perry/Sun Journal
FARMINGTON — Franklin County commissioners learned Tuesday the county was cited by the Maine Department of Labor for “serious violations” pertaining to the window replacement project at the county Courthouse.
The citations were issued and dated April 25 for an inspection done between March 21 and April 15. The penalty is for $1,400 all together, or $700 each for each of the two violations related to lead exposure.
The county had old windows replaced with new windows earlier this spring in county offices. Bernard told commissioners March 18 that a Community Concepts employee inspected the offices and found lead on the old windows and the sills, with the exterior having more lead than the interior.
According to the Bureau of Labor Standards report, an employee complained about the possible exposure to lead and lead dust in the county offices.
“The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or likely to be present, which necessitates the use of personal protective equipment,” the inspection report said.
The personal protection equipment would have protected the employees from hazards.
“Employees at the Courthouse inspected the work of contractors, conducted cleaning, painting, other various maintenance tasks within the ‘County Offices’ room, which exposed them to lead,” the citation reads.
The second serious violation was for failing to “maintain all surfaces free as practicable of accumulations of lead,” the citation said.
“Franklin County did not ensure surfaces were clean and free from lead before allowing employees to access work areas,” the citation said.
A wide sample taken inside the county offices room registered at 1,000 micrograms per square foot.
In a letter of interpretation dated Jan. 12, 2023, OSHA references “less than 200 micrograms per square foot as considered free as practicable of accumulation of lead.”
County Administrator Amy Bernard told commissioners previously that in an inspection done following the window replacement no lead or lead dust was found in the county offices.
The county plans to appeal the violations, Bernard told commissioners Tuesday.
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