Asbestos, used in construction for decades, is dangerous if released into the air. State and federal laws have established strict guidelines to minimize asbestos cancer risk during the demolition process. These guidelines require that asbestos be removed prior to destroying a building to prevent fibers from becoming airborne.

Asbestos cancer risk is highest in those that are repeatedly exposed, like construction workers, but the mineral fibers are aerodynamically-shaped and can travel a distance from the original source. The asbestos fibers are also smaller than a human hair and difficult to see with the eyes.

According to the Detroit Free Press, the City of Detroit has a demolition program that generates jobs which contractors must bid for to be awarded. This demolition program has strict legal protocol to follow, but a contracting company known as Den-Man Contractors allegedly tore down a home in a manner which was flagrantly in violation of said protocol and asbestos abatement safety procedures..

According to the Detroit Free Press article, criticism of the company has mounted to such a degree that city officials are considering permanently banning Den-Man from participating in any future demolition bids.

Asbestos Risk in Demolition

The home demolition in question occurred on Sept. 13, 2018, on Flanders Street in Detroit, a street with only one occupied home left on it.

While asbestos cancer risk is not particularly high in the immediate area due to the lack of population, there were several homes nearby whose owners were not notified of the intention to demolish or of the presence of asbestos in the structure. This has raised some public outcry.

An employee of Den-Man that headed up the job, and who has since quit, purportedly ignored emails that told him to wait on the demolition from a contractor specialized in asbestos abatement.

The occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) says there are over 75 careers that carry occupational asbestos exposure risks. Construction is near the top of the list.

The home—located in a heavily blighted area of east Detroit—was destroyed without removing the hazardous materials. The company has been served a stop work order while an investigation is underway by the City’s Office of Inspector General.

This cease action has caused the company to lose $2.3 million dollars in work that had previously been awarded through the bid process.

Another investigation is also allegedly in process by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) who has said that Den-Man has broken several environmental laws.

Impact of Improper Abatement

For public safety and to minimize asbestos cancer risk, the hazardous mineral fibers need to be removed by a specialist prior to demolition and taken to a facility that specifically deals with such products appropriately.

Exposure to asbestos is often not realized until it is too late, and asbestos disease development can take decades. To keep employees and the public safe, it is important to remove the material according to asbestos abatement procedures.

Although the supervising employee in question has since left Den-Man’s employ, the company itself will not likely see a dime for the work completed on the Flanders property. Moreover, the individual that engaged in this negligent behavior has the capacity to bring other companies down. An email from the city’s Health Department director says anyone that hires him will potentially be removed from a viable list of demolition contractors that can bid for city contracts in Detroit.