September 13th, 2007

The owner of a major asbestos training school, along with an employee, has been indicted over allegations that many undocumented immigrants were given phoney documents and little training before being sent off to work as seemingly trained and qualified asbestos workers. The school is one of the largest in the nation.

The charges, which have been confirmed by Environmental Protection Agency officials, claim that the school, Environmental Compliance Training in Methuen, took money from many clients and issued them with a falsified certificate to state that they had been fully trained. In many cases those receiving the illegal certification were immigrants.

One official stated that not only was the public at risk but so were the workers themselves. She stated: "Asbestos abatement is hazardous work, and it's particularly hazardous if workers are not trained in the proper procedures to use to protect their own health. We're very hopeful that this indictment and the attention it's brought will deter other companies from similar actions."

A lawyer working on behalf of the defendant states that the owner had no idea that he employees had been falsifying documents, stating: "Not only did she not have any knowledge that it happened, but she's shocked and outraged that the people she delegated those responsibilities to allowed it to happen."