Employers have a duty to keep workers safe from asbestos exposure. If an entity chooses to break rules and regulations, it can face high fines and potential lawsuits.
This is because asbestos exposure is directly linked to mesothelioma, and other forms of illness like stomach cancer, throat cancer and kidney cancer. 
In Linden, New Jersey, a developer officials say cut corners, and potentially exposed workers and residents to asbestos, has faced heavy criticism. According to NJ.com, an ongoing project to demolish old buildings to put into place apartment towers has some saying that work has released asbestos into the air. The buildings were demolished in 2018.
Following the demolition, the state Department of Labor fined the developer, Capodagli-Meridia, and its subcontractors, $25,000 each for improper demolition, including disturbing asbestos by unlawful wet demolition activities.
Inspectors reportedly found asbestos on pieces of roofing and flashing. NJ.com reported that the fines were later reduced at an informal hearing after the developer admitted responsibility.
This irked a local council-member who claimed the developer cut corners, putting residents at risk. “I’m extremely upset,” the council member said, adding that young residents breathed in the asbestos-laden dust as they walked to school,” according to NJ.com.
One resident, a consultant who has dealt with asbestos remediation, said that she reported to state officials issues with the demolition. She claimed that she saw plumes of white-gray dust in the air area that were not watered down, signaling risk.
Keep in mind, it is estimated that asbestos exposure has contributed to 12,000 to 15,000 deaths each year in the U.S. It is unclear if there will be more fines or consequences for the developer in this case.
Asbestos Exposure is Preventable
Even with regulations, some companies allegedly recklessly continue to expose people to danger through negligence. This is incredibly disheartening because the dangers of asbestos exposure have been known for decades.
If you become sick because you are exposed to asbestos, our mesothelioma attorneys can help you fight back. We can investigate your claim and possibly obtain compensation for you that can help pay for expensive healthcare treatment.
Contact us today for a free consultation, if you have been diagnosed with cancer and you believe it was the result of asbestos exposure. Call (800) 637-6347 today or fill out our online case review form.
Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP – Mesothelioma Attorneys
