Penalties for Asbestos Violations A Joke
What penalties and consequences will it take to prevent asbestos violations from happening during renovations or demolitions? This is a question many are asking because of concern about being exposed to asbestos and later running the risk of developing mesothelioma.
It seems the penalties, whether jail time or fines, are not sufficient to keep some from disregarding current environmental and governmental regulations that are designed to keep everyone safe from exposure to asbestos.
Former St. Louis fire chief, Joseph Washington, is a perfect example of this. After blatant disregard for following standard procedures, Washington was sentenced to only one year of probation for illegally removing asbestos from the Northeast Ambulance and Fire Protection District building. Washington was charged with a felony violation of improper removal of asbestos containing tiles and violating the Clean Air Act. His actions put the lives of others at risk of one day developing mesothelioma, and yet he only faces a one year probation.
When the St. Louis County Health Department was first alerted that illegal removal of asbestos floor tiles was occurring, they sent investigators in to inspect but were refused admittance. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources stepped in, searched the building, and took samples of the floor tiles that confirmed they contained toxic levels of asbestos.
Despite already being told that it was highly likely the building contained asbestos, Washington failed to notify the EPA before removing the floor tile, which is required by law. He also violated disposal regulations, which require any asbestos containing materials to be properly sealed, marked and disposed of at specific dump sites.
Washington was fired last November for an unrelated cause of being accused of embezzling money from the fire district. He pleaded guilty to charges of violating EPA asbestos regulations in December, and this week was sentenced to one year probation. Hardly a deterrent for either him or others when there is much more profit to be made by disregarding public safety.
