Criminal Sanctions for Asbestos
The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, and a variety of other government organizations have been given the ability to bring charges against companies and individuals that violate regulations on the containment, use, or disposal of various harmful substances. Asbestos has been outlawed by the EPA for decades now. When violations occur, it is likely that criminal sanctions will be brought.
Criminal sanctions for disposal of asbestos or removal are somewhat common. The process is very expensive and requires a degree of precision that many contractors are not willing to take on. In order to remove asbestos legally, many states require that companies that offer this protection be licensed.
Obviously, there are less expensive options available to building owners that want to have their asbestos containing material (or ACM) removed by an unlicensed contractor. Unfortunately, there is a good chance that the unlicensed individual will not perform the procedure correctly. This can result in criminal charges for violating the removal laws and result in a far more expensive cleanup procedure.
Companies that expose their workers to asbestos in a factory are also likely to be hit with fines and charges by OSHA and the EPA. One of the hardest parts here is proving that there has been a victim of the actions of the company. Without a victim, it is much more difficult to bring criminal charges successfully.
The criminal charges brought against a company or against an employer do not prevent an individual from filing a civil claim against the same company.
Contact a Mesothelioma Attorney
If you were exposed to asbestos due to the negligent actions of your employer and have now developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, contact the mesothelioma lawyers of Williams Kherkher at 1-800-781-3955.
