St. Louis Fire District Accused of Asbestos Violations
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) accused Northeast Ambulance and Fire Protection District in St. Louis of violations involving improper removal of asbestos and obstructing inspections. The DNR has given the fire district until July 21 to respond to an offer to settle out of court for $70,000 or the case will be referred to the attorney general.
The fire district is being accused of failing to inspect for asbestos containing materials before renovating and for not using a registered asbestos abatement contractor to remove and dispose of tiles that potentially contained asbestos. They are also accused of not complying and blocking inspections.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate mineral with a fibrous structure that was commonly used in many building materials. Exposure to asbestos causes serious health effects, including lung cancer, mesothelioma (a cancer of the lining of the chest or abdominal cavity), and asbestosis. Asbestos does not pose a threat unless it becomes airborne. Renovation and demolition of buildings built before the 1980’s often cause asbestos containing materials to be disturbed and creates a high risk of exposure.
Due to the harmful health effects of asbestos exposure, federal and state governments established regulations for anyone working around, near or with asbestos containing materials. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have strict guidelines for repair, renovation and removal of any material containing asbestos.
Northeast is accused of violating these guidelines and now face high fines for failure to follow asbestos removal regulations.
