Strong Justice For Serious Disease

Workers Fired for Reporting Unsafe Asbestos Disposal File Lawsuit

On Behalf of | Jan 14, 2025 | Asbestos

Asbestos is a known human carcinogen. Researchers know that it causes mesothelioma and lung cancer, as well as certain other cancers. Asbestos removal and remediation are important for public safety.

Before the cancer risks of asbestos were well-known, businesses used asbestos for many different purposes. It is present in many buildings and also in many landfills. Unfortunately, remediation can be expensive and time-consuming.

Some businesses and government authorities may try to cut corners regarding asbestos cleanup efforts. That is exactly what happened according to allegations out of Long Beach. Two workers who lost their jobs claim not just retaliation but critical violations of asbestos rules.

What do the workers allege?

Asbestos cleanup has been an ongoing issue in Long Beach’s Colorado Lagoon. Unfortunately, there is now reason to believe that local authorities have not handled that process appropriately. Instead, according to reports from concerned workers, there may have been attempts to quite literally cover up asbestos.

Two workers who assisted in a remediation project claim that they received instructions to simply re-bury asbestos they had previously unearthed so that it did not attract public attention or pose an immediate risk.

Local authorities have since claimed that deposits located by investigators are the result of old landfill operations, not violations of asbestos regulations. The contaminated sites, including land near a local fire station, contained high concentrations of asbestos, well over the amount required to produce a carcinogenic effect.

Local residents and workers are therefore at risk of preventable illness caused by unnecessary asbestos exposure. People who are unaware of contaminated ground, for example, might start digging to install a garden bed. They could then end up sickened years later without understanding why.

Connecting mesothelioma and other illnesses to asbestos exposure is often the first step in the complex process of securing financial compensation. Workers and property owners exposed to asbestos can potentially hold businesses and even municipal authorities responsible for failing to disclose the presence of asbestos and provide protective equipment.

Those sickened by asbestos have rights, including the right to take legal action against employers and businesses that exposed them to asbestos. The more people who speak up about inappropriate asbestos remediation efforts, the easier it becomes for those sickened by this dangerous substance to seek justice after a diagnosis.

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