OSHA has proposed $323,000 in fines for a Webster, New York, construction contractor the agency says failed to protect its employees against lead exposure hazards at a worksite on the campus of the State University of New York at Geneseo.

OSHA cited Leo J. Roth Corp. for a total of seven alleged willful and serious violations of workplace health standards following an OSHA inspection begun October 25, 2005, in response to an employee complaint. At that time, Roth had been engaged for several weeks in the demolition and replacement of a copper roof on Sturges Hall.

The agency says that Roth failed to conduct initial monitoring to determine if the workers were exposed to airborne concentrations of lead at levels that would trigger protective measures. The company also failed to provide the workers with interim safeguards, including respiratory protection, personal protective clothing, biological monitoring of blood lead levels, medical surveillance, training, and hazard communication, the agency says.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to request and participate in an informal conference with the OSHA area director or to contest them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.