Another case of unsafe asbestos removal highlights ongoing risks to workers, residents, and the environment.

In April 2025, officials at a Massachusetts company pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the illegal removal of asbestos flooring at a middle school in Dartmouth.

Assistant Superintendent James Kiely said the school used the Marion-based company’s services in the summer of 2021 for a flooring replacement project, which included removing and abating asbestos tile flooring in seven classrooms.

During the work, a state inspection revealed the company failed to use water, which is necessary to prevent particles from becoming airborne. Additionally, there were problems with the airflow barriers that the company directed and the flooring wasn’t given enough layers of protective “poly sheeting” in some areas.

A plan for corrective action on the asbestos exposure was made and the state ordered the company to remedy the work, according to Kiely. The school district has not used the company since.

According to the Attorney General’s Office, asbestos is a hazardous material and known human carcinogen regulated under the Clean Air Act. It is used as fire proofing in a wide variety of building materials, from roofing and flooring, to siding and wallboard, to caulking and insulation and is especially prevalent in older construction.

If asbestos is improperly handled or maintained, fibers can be released into the air and inhaled, devastating the lungs, causing scarring, malfunction and potentially life-threatening illnesses, including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. Once disturbed, asbestos fibers can remain airborne, and therefore breathable for up to 72 hours. Because of the serious health risks associated with asbestos, there is no safe level of exposure.

Asbestos Uses

If you thought asbestos was only used in attic insulation, think again.

Until the mid-1980s, building supply companies used this toxic mineral in:

Drywall,
Ceiling tiles,
Wiring insulation,
Floor tiles,
Pipe insulation, and
Cement.

This mineral is not just fireproof. It’s also waterproof, which explains its presence in concrete. Waterproof concrete wasn’t cost effective until very recently. Asbestos also has aesthetic properties. Asbestos put the pop in the popcorn ceilings that were so popular in the 1960s and 1970s.

Industry leaders kept pushing asbestos even after its health risks were public knowledge. At a 2005 Senate hearing, Donald Trump claimed that “if the World Trade Center had asbestos it wouldn’t have burned down” on 9/11. Furthermore, when compared with fireproofing alternatives, asbestos is “like a heavyweight champion against a lightweight from high school,” he asserted.

Back in the day, asbestos use was not limited to large commercial buildings and residential abodes. In fact, in many ways, these two uses were just the beginning.

Asbestos was a key ingredient in auto parts and other manufactured components.

That’s still true of many auto parts imported from China, Russia, and other countries where asbestos mining and use remains legal.

Some asbestos contamination was unintentional, at least initially. Talc-asbestos is a good example. Talc mines are often interlaced with asbestos mines. Therefore, talc particles often wound up in asbestos products and vice versa. If a little talc seeped into attic insulation, that was no big deal. But if a little asbestos seeped into talcum powder, the results were disastrous for many women.

Asbestos Removal

The Clean Air Act and other 1970s and 80s laws, along with increased awareness of health risks (more on that below), basically put an end to asbestos use in new construction projects. The bottom forty floors of the Twin Towers were laced with asbestos, while the upper floors, which were built in the late 70s, contained very little.

But asbestos use is not a 1970s or 1980s problem. Legacy asbestos removal, which is required under a 2024 asbestos ban, is a very dangerous business. In fact, in many ways, asbestos removal is more dangerous than asbestos insulation.

Tiny asbestos fibers are odorless, colorless, and tasteless; you may not know you’re breathing it.

A single fiber can cause cancer or lung disease. The good news is that contained asbestos fibers are totally harmless. So, the construction workers that installed asbestos-laced components bore most of the risk. But renovation and demolition projects usually release fibers and dust into the air, placing everyone at risk.

The high risk underscores the need for a top-notch asbestos abatement contractor who handles all three asbestos abatement phases:

Testing: The first phase of asbestos abatement isn’t as important now as it was before the 2024 ban. Now, all asbestos must go, whether or not it’s an airborne health hazard. However, responsible contractors still conduct tests, so they have some idea of what they’re getting into.
Removal: Building owners should carefully review removal strategies with abatement contractors. Building owners are legally responsible for damages if a victim is exposed to asbestos and contracts mesothelioma or another illness, even if the owner didn’t know about asbestos contamination.
Disposal: The 2024 ban also requires contractors to safely dispose of asbestos. Since this toxic mineral is fireproof, incineration, the traditional hazardous waste disposal method, may not be an option. Alternatives are available, and although they’re expensive, the added expense is usually a worthwhile investment.

Furthermore, the asbestos abatement contractor should be a local company with experience in the type of project at hand. Asbestos removal carries so many risks that these projects should never be training programs for inexperienced contractors or those who are unfamiliar with the general layout of public buildings in the area.

Case Study

Negligent asbestos removal is not just a problem in Massachusetts. Asbestos removal is so expensive that many unscrupulous companies see a chance to make a quick buck.

The Gibson Health Hub saga in Albuquerque, New Mexico is a good example. In 2023, an asbestos remediation contractor hired to clear asbestos from a homeless shelter allegedly circumvented building inspections while workers without proper PPE (personal protective equipment) ripped out hazardous materials, swept them up, and threw them away as if they were yard clippings.

These two issues (safety inspection circumvention and worker vulnerability) are very common. In each case, unscrupulous companies profit and workers pay the price.

We mentioned environmental laws above. These laws theoretically protect people. But enforcement is sporadic, at best. Additionally, aside from a few headline-grabbing cases, penalties for violators are usually lax. In this environment, it’s little wonder that so many companies get away with so much wrongdoing.

Compensation for Injuries from Asbestos Exposure

Additionally, government lawyers, no matter how dedicated they are, do not compensate asbestos exposure victims. Only an asbestos exposure lawyer does that. Furthermore, and perhaps more importantly, lawyers shine spotlights on contractor misdeeds. Most likely, no one would’ve known what happened at the Gibson Health Hub in Albuquerque if the matter hadn’t gone to court.

As for lack of worker protection, to many companies, employee safety is simply an unnecessary cost. Therefore, most companies don’t fulfill their threefold worker safety duty. Companies must supply asbestos workers with proper PPE, instruct them how to wear it, and emphasize the need for it.On a final and related note, hurricanes often spread asbestos-laced flooring and other debris across wide areas. In fact, natural disaster-related exposure is almost as common as remediation exposure. Even if an asbestos exposure victim didn’t handle an asbestos-laced product or have any other direct contact with this toxic mineral, compensation is available.