Worcester – A Rowley business has been ordered to pay $75000 for settling allegations that asbestos was mishandled by workers during renovation works at the West Side House, according to Maura Healey, the state Attorney General. West Side House is a long-term care centre located on 35 Fruit Street in Worcester.
Both the state and the West Side Corporation agreed to this settlement under the consent judgement approved on Tuesday in the Suffolk County Superior Court.
According to the state, workers of West Side removed dangerous demolition debris improperly from the building during the renovation of a HR office in 2014 April. The state accused the workers of failing to notify the environmental authorities regarding the work. Additionally, the workers allegedly used illegal asbestos removal procedures. The state says workers rolled debris through the care centre in open barrels and dumped it out in a trash compactor.
The Attorney General said the company has agreed to hire an authorized asbestos inspector for checking the W. Side House and other facilities for asbestos which may have to be removed.
According to the AG’s office, the $25000 of the fines may possibly be waived if the company abides by all the settlement terms.
Asbestos is the term used to describe a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals that are found as masses of very strong and flexible fibres. These fibers can be easily separated into small threads and woven. Because of its high tensile strength and other wonderful features such as excellent resistance against fire, heat and electricity, and due to its low cost, asbestos was widely used in numerous industrial products such as cement, roof shingles, brake linings, textiles, flooring products, and insulation.
Despite all its valuable features, asbestos is an extremely dangerous mineral and a human carcinogen. The tiny particles / fibers of asbestos float in the air when asbestos-containing materials are disturbed or broken during construction / renovation / demolition works or manufacturing processes. These particles could be swallowed or inhaled easily and could cause severe health issues. Mesothelioma, an incurable type of cancer affecting the mesothelial cells, is the deadliest outcome of asbestos exposure. Inhalation / ingestion of asbestos particles is also linked to several other disastrous medical conditions such as asbestosis, pleural thickening and lung cancer. For this reason, asbestos is a highly regulated material in the U.S.
