Legal Claim Alleges that City of San Diego Employees Were Exposed to Asbestos

Recently, The San Diego Union-Tribune published a story about a legal claim that had been filed alleging that hundreds of city employees were exposed to asbestos. The exposures said to have occurred in a high rise leased by the City of San Diego that were undergoing renovation activities.

San Diego officials issued a statement in response that read, “The city takes the workplace conditions of its employees seriously and that’s why action was taken to remove all employees from the building once potential asbestos was discovered. City employees were instructed to leave all their equipment and personal belongings inside to prevent additional contamination.” Back in January of this year, the City of San Diego announced that it was indeed moving 550 of its employees from the leased downtown building due to concerns about the presence of asbestos-containing construction debris.

The discovery of asbestos during renovation projects are common in buildings and homes constructed up until the late 1970s. Asbestos is frequently found in old building materials ranging from insulation, roofing and siding, to vinyl floor tiles, cement sheets and adhesives to name just a few of the thousands of asbestos-containing materials once used regularly.

“Before, during and after a demolition, renovation or remodeling project takes place, it is a good idea, and often required by law, to test for asbestos and lead to protect workers, building occupants and future building occupants,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “Dust and debris from these types of projects can be hazardous and in many circumstances, these activities are subject to health and safety regulations for how they are handled.”

The scientists at LA Testing help to protect workers and building occupants in these situations. The environmental laboratory experts have multiple facilities across California that offer testing services, all of the sampling supplies needed and test kits to identify asbestos and lead. They also test for mold, mercury, PCBs, VOCs and other substances frequently encountered during renovation projects. LA Testing has even sponsored an educational video about indoor environmental hazards that could be present during renovation and remodeling projects that can be seen at: http://youtu.be/1ENInekpUy8.

To learn more about asbestos and other indoor environmental quality (IEQ), occupational, health and safety services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email  info@LATesting.com  or call (800) 755-1794. For access to test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.


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