February 14th, 2008

A contracting company in New York is contesting an order to pay almost $100,000 in fine regarding asbestos exposure on one of their sites. The company was demolishing an old hospital to make way for redevelopment.

A New York contracting company has been informed that they are being slapped with a fine for exposing their employees to asbestos while on a demolition site. The company intends to contest the fine of almost $100,000, saying that the accusations against them are little more than hearsay. The company was handed citations for willful and serious violations on the old hospital demolition site, stemming from complaints of the company’s employees.

The violations are for putting employees in harms way while removing asbestos from the old building. The company is accused of knowing that asbestos is a health concern and that workers handling the material need to be protected, but chose to ignore those guidelines. Asbestos exposure can lead to illnesses and diseases, including a type of lung cancer called mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is the result of breathing in asbestos fibers, which harm the lungs and slowly suffocate the victim. If guidelines are followed for the handling and removal of asbestos, the chance of being exposed to airborne fibers are small.