Family of Fort Bragg Soldier Upset over Exposure to Asbestos
Several weeks ago, soldiers in Fort Bragg, North Carolina were instructed to remove floor tiles in an old barracks storage room. One of the soldiers told his dad, Evon Colchiski, about their assignment to remove the tiles. His father immediately became concerned about the soldiers scraping the old floor tiles and removing the debris. His concern was that the tiles may contain asbestos, a fibrous mineral which was widely used in building materials prior to the 1980’s.
Exposure to asbestos damages the lungs and can cause cancers such as asbestosis and mesothelioma. Asbestos isn’t considered hazardous in it’s stable form, but when damaged or broken up, as in the case of demolition work, dust can be released creating a health risk to all those in the area.
Pvt. Jason Colchiski’s father is skeptical that the Army’s did not know about the potential danger, and claims that one of the sergeants warned the soldiers to be careful when removing the tile because it may contain asbestos. Evon Colchiski tested a sample of the tile, which showed the backing to contain asbestos above the level considered to be safe.
Jason’s father and cousin have both spoken out about their concerns and are asking for on-going monitoring of the soldier’s health, that proper training be done, and that more safety precautions be taken while performing demolition.
View the ABC news report – Father Of Soldier Speaks Out Over Asbestos Exposure
