The use of asbestos as a building material has long been abandoned for most construction projects, but many older homes and buildings in Ohio still contain asbestos. Whether undergoing renovations or being torn down entirely, these homes can pose a serious risk to construction workers. Asbestos exposure can lead to any number of deadly diseases, including cancer and lung disease.
When demolition activities take place at a site where asbestos is present, worker safety is paramount. Unfortunately, as out-of-state construction crews have been tearing down hundreds of asbestos-laden houses every year, safety regulations were allegedly ignored. Part of the blame has been placed on the Department of Environmental Quality, which did not perform the necessary regulatory oversight for this type of project.
According to those state regulations in Washington, outside contractors are supposed to first remove the asbestos before any demolition begins. Additionally, federal regulations aim to protect workers even further by mandating protective gear specifically designed to prevent inhaling the deadly substance. A witness to at least one of these demolitions spotted these dangerous deficiencies in safety and reported his concerns along with photographs of workers who had not been supplied with the necessary gear for their protection.
While asbestos was once a wildly popular substance for a variety of reasons, the disaster that it can cause is especially devastating. With the dangers of the deadly cancer mesothelioma so well-understand, it can be hard to imagine that some companies or employers would blatantly ignore the safety of their workers and nearby citizens, and yet it is an occurrence that continues. Although no amount of financial compensation can truly make up for injuries suffered from a wrongful exposure to asbestos, the successful navigation of a claim against an employer or company can help victims in Ohio handle their damages as successfully as possible.
Source: bellinghamherald.com, “In Portland, many homes demolished with asbestos inside”, Sept. 26, 2015
