A Massachusetts developer has to pay a settlement fine of $100,000 for allegedly violating asbestos disposal regulations, which may have put people at risk of exposure.

The $100,000 penalty is not the only requirement outlined in the settlement agreement for Hampton Properties LLC. On top of the monetary penalty, the company will also be tasked with hiring a consultant to do an audit of even more of their properties to see if asbestos disposal regulations have been violated elsewhere.

According to the lawsuit, Hampton Properties used workers who lacked the proper licenses for asbestos removal. These workers were allegedly sent to two Massachusetts apartment buildings and were required to remove boiler components and pipe insulation that contained asbestos.

The lawsuit claims that these workers did not follow asbestos disposal regulations, including safety precautions that would minimize their exposure.

The workers allegedly committed another major safety violation–namely, leaving unsealed asbestos materials in a dumpster behind the buildings without following any asbestos disposal regulations.

Attorney General Maura Healey was satisfied with the settlement agreement, and is determined to continue fighting to protect asbestos disposal regulations. “Asbestos can endanger the health of workers and the public if not handled properly,” said Healey, according to MassLive. “Our office will work to ensure that all of this company’s properties are safe for all residents and will enforce state laws that are in place to protect workers and the public from the risks posed by asbestos exposure.”

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral used for commercial purposes such as electrical or building insulation, as well as countless other uses. The microscopic fibers of asbestos can accumulate in a person’s lungs, and then quickly spread to surrounding organs.

Asbestos exposure has been linked with a number of serious asbestos diseases including lung cancer. It can take decades for lung cancer and other asbestos diseases to present symptoms, but it can then spread rapidly to organs all across the body.

This rapid rate of development often means that asbestos lung cancer isn’t diagnosed until it has reached a later and more dangerous stage of development. For many patients, the time span between their asbestos exposure and diagnosis is too great to recognize the connection.

Filing an Asbestos Lung Cancer Lawsuit

According to many lawsuits filed over diseases like lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure, companies that fail to follow proper asbestos disposal regulations and allow workers to be exposed to the toxic substance should have been aware of the dangerous nature of their asbestos-containing materials.

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