Asbestos Violations Cited In Bend, Oregon

According to the local ABC affiliate KOHD, two companies were recently fined $15,000 in civil penalties by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality for unlicensed asbestos abatement during the demolition of three mobile home units at Sun Country Mobile Home Park in Bend, Oregon. An asbestos survey conducted by the property owner at the site in April 2008 indicated that asbestos was present in paint located on the roofs of three of the units. In addition to the unlicensed asbestos abatement fines, Hoviss Build Group LLC and Williamette Builders Group LLC were also fined for failing to deposit the asbestos-containing waste materials at an approved DEQ disposal site.

Once the property owner knew that there was asbestos in the roof of the trailer units, they should have only hired a licensed asbestos abatement company to handle its removal, which Hoviss and Williamette are not. The Central Oregon Investors LLC, owners of the Sun Country Park, was also fined $16,651 for allowing unlicensed workers to perform an asbestos abatement project.

Exposure to airborne asbestos is a danger to both the workers that handled the demolition project and to nearby residents. There is no safe level of asbestos exposure once the material has been rendered “friable”, meaning the material is likely to cause asbestos fibers to become airborne. Exposure to asbestos fibers can cause a number of respiratory illnesses and has been proven to cause terminal lung cancer known as mesothelioma.

The Department of Environmental Quality in Oregon requires that a licensed asbestos abatement contractor must remove any material containing more than 1% asbestos. A licensed asbestos abatement contractor will know how to properly remove and contain the materials to limit the risk of exposure. These licensed contractors are also equipped with the proper protective clothing and masks.

The fines issued by each state for improper handling of asbestos materials are important to the safety of employees and residents everywhere. The companies have 20 days to appeal.

Drawing attention to these events helps to raise overall asbestos awareness and awareness of the dangers of asbestos exposure.

Fort Bragg Officers Exposed To Asbestos

Evon Colchiski is the father of Pvt. Jason Colchiski who served a year in Iraq and is now stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. As a father, Evon’s concerns were raised when his 21 year-old son called to tell him that he had been ordered to remove floor tile from a storeroom in a barracks building, which was built during the time of the Korean War, for breaking Fort Bragg regulations. The true concern came when his son informed him that the overseeing officer had told Colchiski, and the other officers assigned to the removal, to “be careful” as the tiles contained asbestos.

According to recent articles released on the FayObserver, the father told his son about the dangers of asbestos exposure during a phone conversation and when told to resume working on the floor removal, Pvt. Colchiski told his sergeant that he would not continue the work due to the severe health risks and was then instructed to use a mask. During the work prior to this time, no protective breathing masks were supplied to the officers.

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that was used regularly in building materials, such as floor tiles, prior to the 1970s when regulations were put in place to limit its use. Exposure to asbestos in its stable form is generally harmless, but exposure to airborne asbestos fibers, which occur when asbestos materials are broken up for removal or from age, can lead to several asbestos related illnesses including mesothelioma, a form of terminal cancer. Anyone who works around asbestos dust is supposed to wear masks and take other precautions to keep the particles out of their lungs, off their clothes and from getting into the air where it can travel and effect innocent bystanders.

Although the father, Evon, spoke with the son’s sergeant and explained the risks of asbestos exposure, Pvt. Colchiski told his father that on the following day, he saw other officers enter the store room to complete the removal and install new tile without protective equipment. Evon proceeded to obtain a sample of the removed tile and have it tested. The test results showed that the tile did indeed contain asbestos and the concerned father notified North Carolina health officials. The N.C. Division of Public Health has jurisdiction even though Fort Bragg is a federal military installation and began investigating the incident with the cooperation of the Fort Bragg’s Environmental Branch.

The army conducted chest x-rays and breathing tests on those officers that were exposed; unfortunately, many asbestos related illnesses have a latency period of 20-50 years. The army has agreed to test those officers involved in the asbestos tile clean up once a year for the next five years and every five years thereafter. This was according to Bryan Sleigh, the division’s top doctor, 82nd Airborne Division Surgeon.

Catonsville Pushing State of Maryland to Put Asbestos Rules In Place

Residents of Catonsville want bigger answers from the state of Maryland regarding asbestos hazards as a natural rock formation appeared in the middle of a construction site. Neighbors are not only worried about their health, but are growing even more concerned about state and county regulations regarding the rocks removal.

Why such a fuss about a rock? As it turns out this rock is asbestos. Exposure to airborne asbestos can lead to illnesses such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma, a terminal cancer, and the construction company working on the site was crushing the rock, sending asbestos into the air.

Enterprise homes, the company performing the crushing, immediately stopped operations and willingly tested nearby homes for asbestos, but it is the State’s failures that have residents really upset. It is under question to many residents if the state of Maryland has adopted the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act that would deal with situations such as these. AHERA has multiple requirements, including inspecting known asbestos-containing materials every three years, maintaining up-to-date asbestos management plans and training custodial staff in handling the mineral. Many residents believe there are no county or state regulations to deal with asbestos exposure, but that federal standards should have been followed. The Maryland Department of the Environment expressed in a Hometown Annapolis article, that there is not a need to mandate asbestos handling guidelines for companies like Enterprise, when they are willing to cooperate and make efforts to remedy the situation.

Construction at the site in Catonsville has resumed, although the asbestos rock is no longer being crushed. Neighbors are left to deal with dust and residue from the site on their homes and in their yards. Although they are being told the residue has been tested and does not contain asbestos, many are still uncertain. There is no doubt that resident’s hope that state and local jurisdiction will come up with an action plan to deal with similar situations in the future.

Kentucky Demolition Raises Community Asbestos Concerns

As highlighted on KYPost.com, the Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection has issued a public advisory regarding asbestos contamination of demolition materials being shredded and then offered to the public as free mulch.

Although it is a requirement of the Division of Air Quality that businesses sample for asbestos before performing any demolition project, this demolition project was not reported to the DAQ. The demolition site was located just within city limits and close to a public highway. The building being demolished and containing asbestos materials was once the Independent Tobacco Warehouse.

According to the post, a grinder was used to shred any remaining demolition material, including old roofing that commonly contains asbestos, and make it into mulch, as a large portion of the material was old wood. The Department of Environmental Protection responded to a complaint about the demolition piles and an air quality sample was taken. It was this sample which indicated that indeed there was asbestos in the free “mulch” piles.

Exposure to airborne asbestos can cause severe lung irritation and even asbestos cancers. A common asbestos cancer caused by exposure to airborne asbestos is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma affects the lining of internal organs like the lungs and stomach and often remains dormant for many years before diagnosis.

The scariest part of this type of asbestos exposure is that it is impossible to track which residents picked up this asbestos laden “free mulch” and took it back to their homes or businesses for use. Nor is there a way to calculate the number of adults or children who may have been exposed during the demolition itself either, as particles were obviously airborne during the shredding and demolition process as well. The post did not mention if workers performing the demolition were properly protected from exposure.

The Department of Environmental Protection immediately alerted the mayor of the town and Emergency Management Services of the asbestos contamination. The Independent Tobacco Warehouse and the company responsible for the site demolition were also cited for their violations.

Asbestos Roof Collapses in Primary School

The shock to a parent must be overwhelming when told that their children are being sent home from school due to a roof collapse, but even more shocking would be to learn that those children may have been exposed to air born asbestos which can cause varying forms of asbestos cancer.

According to the Independent.ie, many parents in Dublin were recently delivered this news as the asbestos roof of a primary school collapsed with children and teacher in attendance. After heavy rains and much leaking the roofing and insulation materials became saturated and the weight of these materials caused them to break through, almost to the schoolroom floor. At this point, the school has been closed due to fears of asbestos poisoning, and parents are left to wonder when their children will be able to return to school.

Extended exposure to air born asbestos can cause an asbestos cancer called mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs, stomach and other internal organs. Treatment of asbestos cancer depends on the severity, location and type of illness. Although there have been successful treatments, this disease is still considered terminal.

For the children in Dublin, the true question would be, how long have they been exposed to this asbestos material? If the school was in enough disrepair for the roof to collapse, it makes one wonder how long this toxic material has been slipping into the classroom. According to the school’s principal, the school had been requesting financing to make necessary repairs for the last 13 years. That is a lot of students and faculty potentially exposed over the years.

Funding for repairs to the school are currently under investigation and until there is a safe place to continue teaching, students of the school will remain at home and parents will remain on guard for symptoms of any problems.

Dangerous Careers With Exposure To Asbestos

Since the 1800s doctors have seen a link between exposure to asbestos in the workplace and lung disease. It wasn’t until the 1970’s and the Industrial Revolution that the EPA issued warnings about exposure to asbestos in the workplace, but at this time of growth and prosperity, many employers and employees ignored those warnings and continued to handle asbestos laden materials without the proper protection. It was not until the Environmental Protection Agency started placing bans on the use of asbestos materials that the true threat of asbestos was heard.

Exposure to airborne asbestos can cause a form of cancer known as mesothelioma. This cancer can affect the lining of several internal organs and is only treatable in certain cases. Those employees exposed throughout the last two decades to asbestos in the workplace are often stricken with asbestos-related diseases. As asbestos was used so regularly prior to the 1970s, it can still be found in many materials from building materials on older homes like shingles, insulation and flooring, on automotive parts such as brakes and as insulation in many operations that required a high heat shielding material. Due to the widespread use of asbestos and the isolated continued usage of this hazardous material, asbestos still poses threats to many in the workplace.

There are many careers that carry a risk of asbestos exposure and although not all employees in these fields experience asbestos-related disease, there are several occupations that carry a higher risk factor than others. Mine workers who have excavated vermiculite and talc have often been exposed to airborne asbestos and of course those employees of plants that produce asbestos products are at a constant risk of exposure. Steel mills, oil refineries and power plants that required insulation products with high heat and fire resistance used many asbestos products as thermal insulators. Railroads and shipyards used asbestos materials for many purposes and repairs to such materials were usually done by hand and with no protection from the airborne particles that cause mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. Most construction workers were exposed to asbestos on a daily basis as most building materials from drywall and stucco to shingles and flooring contained amounts of asbestos that could be harmful. These risks extend to demolition crews hired to tear down older buildings. Automotive repairmen also run the risk of exposure as many brake pads and drums were constructed of asbestos material.

Today one job that still encounters the high-risk of asbestos exposure everyday is the life of a firefighter. Homes and businesses built before the ban of asbestos materials burn like any other and firefighters come to the rescue with each flame. Each time a firefighter responds to a fire at an older building they are running the risk of being exposed to asbestos fibers in the building materials. In order to conduct fire control techniques, firemen must chop through walls, ceilings and floors to control the fire and with each swing of the ax in an older building; more asbestos could possibly be escaping into the air. Most fireman wear protective masks when inside of a building, but there really is no stopping these materials from escaping into the outside air when a building collapses. The irony of the firefighters career is that most of the protective gear they wear is made from asbestos material because of its heat and fire resistant properties. Firemen are trained on the dangers of asbestos exposure and most wear facial masks with HEPA filters to reduce their risk of exposure.

Although bans have been placed to restrict the use of asbestos and regulations must be posted in workplaces where exposure to asbestos is still a possibility, the threat of asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma still exist for many of today laborers. Before making your next career choice or planning your next big job change, make the proper inquiries about your risk of exposure to asbestos in the workplace.

Dealing With Asbestos In Your Home

Yesterday we talked about finding asbestos in your attic. Today, we move downstairs and look at the rest of your house.

So you’re finally getting that kitchen of your dreams, and as the remodeling process begins, you look at the old tiles that are original to your home and begin to wonder if they contain asbestos. How can you tell? And, if asbestos is present, what course of action should you take? Is costly asbestos removal the only way to go?

Prior to the 1970s, many items that went into the construction of homes contained asbestos. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), roofing and siding shingles, popcorn ceilings, acoustic tiles, textured paint, patching products, various insulation, millboard, cement board, backing on vinyl floor sheeting and floor tiles themselves often contained asbestos. For this reason, it's not uncommon for a remodeling homeowner to come across a product with asbestos and run into the possibility of asbestos removal.

In general, the best thing to do with possible asbestos-containing materials in the home is to leave them alone. You should monitor these materials regularly to check for signs of wear or damage. If a material appears to be damaged, flaking or crumbling, having it tested is your next step. Like we've mentioned before, the National Institute of Standards and Technology has a listing of federally accredited laboratories around the country.

The CPSC suggests that oftentimes the best way to deal with only slightly damaged material is to limit access to the area, as well as not touching or disturbing it in anyway, as opposed to asbestos removal. For asbestos flooring that is in reasonably good shape, some contractors suggest laying carpeting or another floor material over it. If your ceiling has asbestos laden popcorn paint, this can be repainted, which should seal the hazardous fibers in place, again negating the need for asbestos removal procedures. However, if the ceiling must be demolished or the texture removed, and testing has indicated it to be positive for asbestos, only a certified remediation company should be contracted to perform the work, to ensure safe removal and proper disposal.

Siding and roof shingles known to contain asbestos should also be removed by a certified contractor. Placing new siding or shingles over this material can often result in the release of hazardous fibers. Heat pipes wrapped with asbestos containing insulation do not necessarily need to be removed. Instead of asbestos removal, this insulation can be encapsulated, with a special sealant, to prevent the release of fibers, but must also be performed by a certified professional.

Not so long ago many home construction materials contained asbestos, a carcinogenic material known to cause lung cancer and mesothelioma. Today, as these homes age and homeowners go to remodel, it's not uncommon for them to run into an asbestos-containing products. In some instances asbestos removal by a certified remediation contractor is the choice that needs to be made.

Better Safe Than Sorry

There's no such thing as being too cautious when it comes to asbestos. Today brings more news of asbestos in the air, this time at a construction site and business.

A construction site in Baltimore County closed when surrounding neighbors expressed concerns that asbestos, a carcinogen known to lead to lung cancer and mesothelioma, was in the air. Apparently dust full of asbestos had been blowing from the site to nearby homes and businesses. Thankfully, construction has stopped. Engineers and neighbors are attempting to determine the full extent of asbestos exposure.

Meanwhile the Dekalb County Times Journal in Alabama is reporting that asbestos was found in the Sand Mountain Electric Cooperative building, forcing a temporary evacuation. The General Manager says they are planning to replace a 43-year-old HVAC unit, and asbestos was found in the ceiling tiles.

Another good reminder to us all that you simply can't be too careful.