A federal jury in Utica, N.Y. this week convicted Certified Environmental Services, two senior managers and one employee of conspiring to falsify asbestos inspection reports and concealing incomplete asbestos removal work at schools, homes and other buildings. Asbestos was an ingredient in thousands of construction products during the 20th century. Inhalation of asbestos fibers causes a number of diseases including lung cancer and mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung.
According to a U.S. Department of Justice press release, Certified Environmental Services, an asbestos monitoring company and accredited lab, and several of its senior employees conspired with two asbestos removal companies for nearly a decade to falsify lab reports used to show that asbestos removal work was properly done.
Owners of houses and buildings were led to believe by the falsified reports that all asbestos had been removed when in many cases toxic dust had been left behind by sloppy removal work. People who lived and worked in the buildings were exposed to asbestos, putting them at risk of developing serious asbestos-related cancer and respiratory disease.
“Because of the dishonest and illegal practices of this company, many people were left unaware for years of their possible exposure to asbestos,” Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Environmental and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice said in a press statement. “Companies and employees will be fully investigated and prosecuted when they put the public’s health at risk by violating environmental laws.”
No comments:
Post a Comment