Our mesothelioma lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm know that employees have the right to work in an environment that is free of health and safety hazards. Unfortunately, many workers in this country are often denied this right through no fault of their own.
According to an Associated Press article, the owners of a New York expo center is facing nearly $90,000 in fines for asbestos violations. These asbestos violations put employees at risk for developing asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.
The announcement came about six months after workers at New york’s Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum reported the presence of toxic asbestos in their workplace to government regulators.
More than 80 employees from the Coliseum have already filed an asbestos lawsuit against the company’s owners. The employees claim that the occupational asbestos violations put them at the risk of developing asbestosis, mesothelioma, and similar diseases.
Some even claim that they know of co-workers who have already died from mesothelioma cancer.
So far, it appears that the risk of asbestos-related diseases did not extend beyond the job site. OSHA found that the asbestos-containing materials were restricted to areas that the guests did not have access to.
In addition to the serious asbestos breach, the facility was cited for other violations such as poorly lighted exit routes. The Coliseum was set up in 1972 and the old building has been associated with several previous workplace hazard issues. County officials are presently looking for suggestions to replace the arena.
$11,000 Penalty for Tank Removal and Installation Company
According to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection website, the state agency imposed a $10,887 fine on a tank removal and installation company in Wakefield for asbestos breaches. These violations happened during a boiler plant demolition project at a state university.
Two years back, the agency carried out a surprise inspection at the university where employees were breaking down an oil-tank piping tunnel. The agency noted that broken portions of heavy concrete fell into pipe insulation that contained asbestos. Instead of properly handling the asbestos materials, the workers tried to wet the damaged region using a garden hose. The state agency took lab samples that very day, and dangerous levels of asbestos materials were found in the caulking and damaged insulation.
After the inspection, the work stopped and the tank removal company was instructed to use a certified asbestos contractor to safely plan completion of the work. Eventually, the cleanup was finished in accordance with government regulations. But it may have been too late to avoid injuring workers who were previously exposed to hazardous asbestos fibers.
Two Indicted for Violation of Asbestos Abatement Code of Procedure
Another recent news article revealed that a contractor and former Buffalo Bills player were indicted on federal charges for abusing asbestos reduction protocols at their respective companies. The two engaged in projects that put the safety and health of the community at risk.
The two companies worked together on two key asbestos abatement ventures in the Buffalo community. In addition, the pair also got rid of asbestos from vacant houses on a street in Buffalo.
The indictments allege that the asbestos removed from these places was unsafely stored. The accused are also charged with conspiracy, based on allegations that some employees were passed off as clerical workers rather than asbestos abatement workers to get around worker’s compensation laws.
Mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer. It only arises from asbestos exposure, and is frequently diagnosed in workers and other people who were constantly in contact with the dangerous substance. If you were a victim of workplace asbestos exposure, consult a doctor immediately. You also need to talk to a competent asbestos exposure attorney immediately to start taking legal action against the negligent or reckless companies that put you at risk for asbestos diseases.
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