Robins Air Force Base officials say they’re well on their way to resolving federal safety violations issued in the last fourteen months. Thirty-six of thirty-nine Occupational Safety and Health Administration citations have been resolved.

OSHA officials say dust created when workers sanded aircraft parts created a hazardous and toxic environment with Lead, Cadmium, and Chromium VI. Inspectors found dust in many places including employee lockers and a break room Coke machine.

Holly Thompson works in Building 169, the so-called “epicenter” of the violations. She says greater dust control has helped her asthma.

“Before they got it cleaned up in here just walking in the door it was really hard to breathe, and that just makes you really tired. And so when they cleaned it all up and the air is nice and clear I really don’t even notice a difference when I come in the door anymore.”

Base officials plan to have most remaining violations resolved by October.

Tags: Robins Air Force Base, U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, cadmium, chrome IV, lead exposure