California Judge Fines Executives $1.8 Million for Exposing Students to Asbestos

Recently, The Fresno Bee published a report about the latest developments for three men who pleaded guilty to violating asbestos regulations.  The three men were involved with an organization that was contracted by the Merced County Office of Education to provide job training for high school students. 
 
Numerous students were used to remove asbestos-containing materials from a building that was undergoing renovations back in 2005 and 2006. According to past reports, some of the people working on the jobsite said the activities caused a fog-like cloud inside the building.  Others reported having white hair from all the dust in the construction site.
 
The three executives have been ordered to pay $1.8 million to a number of students they exposed to asbestos. The money is earmarked for the costs associated with monitoring 65 people exposed to the hazardous material during the renovation project.
 
“Many buildings and homes constructed up until the 1970’s used a number of materials, both inside and outside of the buildings, that contained asbestos,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Garden Grove facility, California’s leading asbestos testing laboratory.  “Asbestos fibers can easily become airborne when asbestos-containing materials are disturbed during remodeling and demolition activities. Cases of asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos can take decades to appear.”
 
LA Testing provides all of the sampling supplies and analytical services to test building materials, dusts and air samples for the presence of asbestos.  They have also sponsored an educational video about potential indoor environmental hazards, such as asbestos, that can be encountered during renovation and remodeling activities.  It can be seen at: http://youtu.be/1ENInekpUy8.
 
To learn more about asbestos testing services or other indoor air quality (IAQ) issues, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794. 
 
About LA Testing
LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals.  In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states.  LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Garden Grove, San Leandro and San Diego.
 

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