Feb 13, 2012 - Friable Asbestos May Lead to Jail Time
Authorities in Rochester, New York have seized 90 bags of friable asbestos, a highly toxic carcinogen, from a warehouse owned and operated by an Avon man. The asbestos came from demolition dumpster that the Avon man allegedly hired untrained workers to empty.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), friable asbestos building materials are those that would "readily release asbestos fibers when damaged or disturbed" or "as any material containing more than one percent (1%) asbestos...that, when dry, can be crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder by hand pressure. Friable asbestos can be easily inhaled, and decades later lead to fatal diseases such as mesothelioma (asbestos cancer) and asbestosis (scarring of the lungs.)
Anastsios Kolokouris, aged 28, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges stemming from his improper handling and disposal of the dangerous asbestos materials. The charges are a federal matter because Kolokouris’ alleged actions violate several portions of the Clean Air Act (CAA) – legislation passed in 1970 and overseen by the EPA.
Prosecutors state that Kolokouris hired untrained, unlicensed workers to empty a construction dumpster full of asbestos. The workers were told to bag the material up and get it ready for disposal but Kolokouris neglected to mention that he material they were handling was potentially lethal.
Federal, state, and local guidelines mandate strict adherence to certain safety practices when handling asbestos containing materials. These include use of safety equipment, properly sealing and labeling containers of asbestos, and wetting the material before they are ever disturbed to minimize the amount of dust produced. In many cases, especially when the amount of material passes beyond a certain threshold, licensed professionals must be called in to remove the asbestos.
Kolokouris’ alleged haphazard handling of this potentially lethal carcinogen flies in the face of all these regulations. Not only was he putting the health and well-being - the very lives- of his workers at risk, the disturbed asbestos could have easily affected anyone who came into contact with it or even passed by the work zone. The EPA has repeatedly stated that there are no safe levels of asbestos exposure and even inhalation or ingestion of minimal amounts of this mineral can lead to fatal diseases.
Kolokouris was collared after an anonymous tipster leaked word about what was happening. The local branch of the EPA sent an investigator to the warehouse where the material was discovered. Indeed, the investigator actually witnessed workers handling un-bagged asbestos as they unloaded it from the dumpster.
Because these violations are so severe, for each Kolokouris could face up to a five year prison sentence and $250,000 in penalties.
Officials are asking the public to help with this investigation. If anybody has any information about this case or if they or anyone they know was in the Rochester warehouse at 920 Exchange Street between August and December 14th of 2011 they are asked to call (800) 799-6033.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestosis, you are entitled to financial compensation from the manufacturers of the asbestos products that caused your injuries. Call our mesothelioma law firm today at 1-800-440-4262 for a free case evaluation with one of our asbestos attorneys. We have been handling mesothelioma lawsuits and asbestos bankruptcy claims for over 30 years and are considered leading experts in the field. Contact us today to find out your rights.
Source:
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20120204/NEWS01/202040312/Asbestos-issue-leads-charge
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