November 5th, 2007

A New York contracting company is contesting six health citations and almost $60,000 worth of fines over asbestos exposure. The company stated that they are not liable for exposing employees to asbestos.

Litigation will be started now that a New York contracting company has contested six health code citations and $57,000 worth of fines due to asbestos exposure. The company was hired, and contracted work out, to clean up a building in DeWitt, where the employees were exposed to asbestos during the botched cleanup. The company indicated that they were not liable for the exposure, and the contest of the charges will move to litigation, then to court if a settlement cannot be reached.

Asbestos exposure normally occurs when the substance is disturbed and breaks apart. The fibers can then be inhaled, which can lead to many types of respiratory illnesses. Mesothelioma, emphysema and asbestosis can all occur from asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma results from asbestos fibers being trapped in the lungs, and is one of the only diseases that result only from asbestos exposure. The fibers keep the lungs from absorbing oxygen, in effect suffocating the victim. This cancer can takes decades to be diagnosed, and is often terminal when it is detected.