San Diego’s City Attorney Issues Costly Civil Penalties to Three Businesses for Mishandling Asbestos

Recently, San Diego’s KGTV published a report about over $31,000 in penalties and restitution that three area companies have agreed to pay for violating hazardous waste laws. The businesses, two investment firms and a construction company, were accused of failing to properly remove asbestos-containing building materials at a project site that put the public and construction workers at risk.  

In the past, asbestos was added to thousands of common building materials to increase strength and durability, and to provide insulating and fireproofing properties. A few of the many materials that may contain asbestos in commercial and residential properties include fireproofing materials; attic and wall insulation; vinyl floor tiles and the backing on vinyl sheet flooring; adhesives; roofing and siding shingles; textured paint and patching compounds used on walls and ceilings; and hot water and steam pipes coated with asbestos or covered with an asbestos blanket or tape.

“Exposure to asbestos needs to be avoided at all times because it can cause mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer that may not appear for decades,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “Unless a building material is labeled, which is almost never the case, the only way to know if it contains asbestos fibers is to have it tested. This is why there are strict regulations for handling asbestos-containing materials. Failure to follow these procedures could result in people developing serious health conditions as well as costly noncompliance penalties, much like those in San Diego recently.”

To help prevent exposure to asbestos and other hazardous materials, LA Testing offers comprehensive analytical services and all of the sampling supplies necessary to submit a variety of environmental samples.  To learn more about this or other indoor air quality (IAQ), environmental, occupational, health and safety testing services, 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, CDC Elite, 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, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

LA Testing

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail