Asbestos Removal Project at Site of Former Hospital Complex in Louisville, KY

A former hospital complex in the Harrison County, KY community of Louisville is currently undergoing asbestos abatement and other renovations. This project, like all asbestos removal and disposal projects in the state, requires specific state and federal regulations to be followed.

Improper asbestos removal puts those in the area at risk for exposure to the carcinogenic mineral, which is known to cause mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer and asbestosis.

In January 2010, the Louisville, KY Courier Journal reported on the status of a number of asbestos abatement, renovation and other construction-related projects taking place in the Harrison County area.

One of the largest projects involves the buildings at the former Harrison County Hospital, which is undergoing asbestos removal and abatement as part of a project to convert the site to the new county office complex.

The anticipated costs to remove the asbestos at the former hospital complex are $434,000, and are expected to be completed within 180 days. Once all asbestos-containing materials (ACM) and other asbestos debris are removed, it is anticipated that renovations to the site will be completed in twelve months.

Asbestos Removal Regulations for Contractors Working in Kentucky
The construction manager and the subcontracting company hired to perform the asbestos abatement are required to follow specific federal and state regulations regarding the testing, removal and disposal of asbestos debris. Both the federal Clean Air Act and the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) provide regulations governing asbestos reporting, removal and disposal. On a state level, the Kentucky Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Kentucky Department of Air Quality (DAQ) oversee the enforcement of asbestos regulations within the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Environmental and Health Risk Hazards Caused by Asbestos
When property and business owners do not follow the federal and state regulations regarding asbestos removal and disposal, they place all those living or working in the area at risk to inhale dangerous asbestos fibers. When asbestos is inhaled, it remains in the lungs instead of being expelled like other airborne irritants we breathe in.

The time between exposure to asbestos and when asbestos disease is diagnosed can be 30-40 or more years long (known as “latency periods”). During this decades-long latency period the asbestos can cause lung tissue to scar, where it can cause either chronic breathing disorders, or in more serious cases, causes the lungs to produce the abnormal cells that lead to the development of mesothelioma or lung cancer tumors.

How Weitz & Luxenberg Can Help
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, we may be able to help you to seek justice for your illness and file a lawsuit on your behalf.

Please complete the form on this page for a free and confidential review of your potential asbestos lawsuit or request a free copy of our asbestos sourcebook. A Weitz & Luxenberg representative will contact you as soon as possible.