Two companies have agreed to a settlement of $215,000 to bring an end to allegations that they used illegal asbestos removal practices during their renovation work.

The asbestos removal lawsuit was filed by Massachusetts state Attorney General Maura Healey against Dellbrook Construction LLC and A-Best Abatement Inc. Dellbrook is a general contractor from the area, and A-Best Abatement is an asbestos removal company.

During their work in at least two locations, these companies allegedly used illegal asbestos removal tactics that did not comply with the clean air laws of Massachusetts or regulations on asbestos removal.

According to the lawsuit, Dellbrook’s illegal asbestos removal allowed an underground pipe with asbestos to be crushed into smithereens and then scattered, letting it out into the open air. Not only did the company allegedly use illegal asbestos removal, it also failed to so much as notify the Department of Environmental Protection that it would be demolishing asbestos-containing materials, further endangering public safety, the lawsuit claims.

Other illegal asbestos removal practices the company is accused of include failing to seal or ventilate work areas, minimizing asbestos exposure, and failing to properly store asbestos-containing material that went to the waste trailer.

“Companies must ensure that any construction and demolition work involving asbestos is done in a safe and legal way to protect workers and the public,” said Healey.

Background of Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber, and is often used for building materials like roofing, flooring and insulation, among countless other uses.

Asbestos used to be a much more widely used material than it is now, and was quite well-known for its effective insulation. However, it has been found that exposure to asbestos actually carries with it a great deal of risk. Asbestos became much more heavily regulated by the 1980s and 1990s, when the risk became more well-known. Some countries have banned the use of asbestos entirely.

If the microscopic fibers of asbestos are released into the air and inhaled, they can accumulate in the lungs, which can cause several critical asbestos diseases like lung cancer. Asbestos-related lung disease may take decades to develop. Other risks include asbestosis and mesothelioma.

It can take tens of years for an asbestos-related disease to begin to show symptoms, but once seen it can then spread rapidly to organs all across the body. This rate of development often means that an asbestos disease is not diagnosed until it has reached a later and more dangerous stage.

Filing an Illegal Asbestos Removal Lawsuit

More and more lawsuits are being filed over illegal asbestos removal practices that can place workers and even the general public in danger of asbestos exposure. Lawsuits allege that companies should have warned their workers of the risks of asbestos and undertaken proper preventative measures to handle the dangerous material.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with or died from an asbestos-related lung disease like lung cancer, you may be able to file a lawsuit or seek an asbestos fine. While filing a lawsuit cannot undo the damage done by exposure to asbestos, it can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses and lost wages.