November 4th, 2007

After much publicity, the Cayuga County Office Building will be undergoing asbestos abatement within the month. The building was at the center of a heated lawsuit that alleged negligence in removing the deadly material.

The Cayuga County Office Building had come under scrutiny when it was alleged that a county worker had illegally hired unlicensed worker to remove asbestos from the basement while renovations were being conducted. The workers were told that the material was fiberglass, and were instructed to dump it in a public place, all the while working without safety gear. County officials have now found a licensed contractor to conduct the abatement correctly in hopes that the controversy can be settled.

The asbestos in the Office Building was in the boiler room, which was being updated, surrounding the piping there. Asbestos was often used as a form of insulation prior to the 1980s, and is usually a safe material. Asbestos becomes a heath hazard when it is disturbed, and breaks apart into airborne fibers. The fibers can be breathed in, and results in respiratory illnesses including emphysema and mesothelioma. A type of aggressive lung cancer, mesothelioma can take decades to manifest.