Asbestos News Roundup: 2.25.10

February 25th, 2010. By LucyC

A roundup of recent asbestos-related news and information that you should be aware of.

Asbestos Lawsuits

Madison County, IL: A total of 18 new asbestos lawsuits were filed between February 8 and 12. They include a lawsuit filed by Geraldine R. and Forrest Blazer of Ohio. The couple allege that Geraldine developed asbestos mesothelioma as a result of secondary or “take home” exposure to asbestos fibers through her father’s work as a shipbuilder for Bethlehem Steel from 1940 until 1943 and through her husband’s work as an asphalt worker for Brewer and Brewer in 1959, and from 1960 until 1977, and as a construction worker for V.N. Holderman from 1959 until 1960. (madisonrecord.com)

James Charles and Pamela B. Smith of Pennsylvania have also filed one of the 18 asbestos lawsuits. They allege that James developed asbestos mesothelioma as a result of his work, which included being in the U.S. Navy from 1966 until 1969, working as a machinist mate on the USS Soley until his discharge in 1969; working as a salesman and store manager for RCP Electronics from 1969 until 1981; working as a salesman for Homelite Power Equipment from 1981 until 1993; and working as an outside sales representative for Cooper Industries from 1994 until 2009. (madisonrecord.com)

Asbestos Removal

Tampa, FL:  Four men were arrested and charged on February 18^th, with violating environmental laws governing asbestos removal. They were responsible for the conversion of the Indian Pass Apartments to Barefoot Beach Resort, located on Gulf Blvd. 

While the conversion of the apartments actually took place in 2004, the project manager, James Roger Edwards, pled guilty to charges of violating environmental laws on February 14, 2010, and this led to the arrest and conviction of several other individuals. 

The scenario in which the violations occurred involved using drywall to cover up spray-textured ceilings that contained asbestos, rather than spending $300,000 on remediation. Not only did this disturb the asbestos coating, but the men contracted to do the work were not provided with proper protective equipment or disposable clothing, both of which are required by law. (mesotheliomaweb.org) 

The Clean Air Act and Asbestos Removal

Asbestos is classified as a hazardous air pollutant under the United States Clean Air Act (first passed in 1963 and last amended in 1990). Clean Air Act provisions regarding asbestos, specifically its nature, definitions of removal techniques, and removal standards, are all itemized under the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) regulations. (mesotheliomaweb.org)

Tags: Asbestos, Asbestos Mesothelioma

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