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Arizona State University recently settled an $87,000 fine with the Maricopa County Air Quality Department for asbestos violations that occurred during renovations on their Memorial Union building.

ASU Failed to Notify County of Renovations

ASU employees were not directly involved in the construction that was the cause of the asbestos violations, but the county Air Quality department explained that ASU failed to fulfill their responsibility to notify the county of renovations that could possibly involve the removal of asbestos.

Contractor to Blame for Asbestos Exposure

While ASU acknowledged their failure to properly notify the county of their renovation plans, they fault the contractor, Re:Source, for being the primary cause of the asbestos exposure. According to ASU:

• Re:Source had sub-contracted the company, PowerTech Flooring, to remove carpeting from the Memorial Union building’s lounge area.
• When PowerTech began removing the carpet, they also removed tile that was underneath the carpet.
• As the tiles were being removed, asbestos under the tiles was being exposed.

"We had a process in place to prevent that type of asbestos issue from happening," she said. "The contractor was only to remove carpeting, not tile. The asbestos was under the tile."

Asbestos Can Cause Deadly Diseases

When asbestos is disturbed like it was during the ASU renovations, asbestos fibers are released into the air. Asbestos is only dangerous to people when these airborne fibers are inhaled. If inhaled, the fibers can remain in the body for years, sometimes even decades, eventually leading to asbestos related diseases such as:

• Asbestosis – Scarring develops in the lung tissue and causes diminished breathing capacity
• Mesothelioma – A form of cancer that occurs when malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body’s internal organs

County Confirmed Release of Airborne Asbestos

County experts have confirmed that a medium amount of asbestos was released when the tile flooring of the Memorial Union was removed. They point out that human exposure to the asbestos was likely minimal since the renovations took place in between semesters, therefore not many people would have been in the building at the time.

Holly Ward, a county air quality department spokeswoman, said the county agency had not investigated the health effects related to the violations.

"We don't assess whether people are healthy or not healthy," she said. "We are making an assessment whether (an organization) is following air-quality regulation."

ASU Settles Fine by Increasing Public Awareness

While the fine Arizona had to pay totaled $87,000, only 25 percent of that had to be paid in cash. ASU was given the option to offset the remainder of the fine by organizing events that would increase public awareness of environmental safety standards.

(Source: AZ Central)

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or you suspect that you have an asbestos-related disease, contact us to schedule a free consultation with an experienced asbestos attorney who will fight to ensure you receive the compensation you need and deserve.