Asbestos Disturbed During Renovations at Roanoke, VA Elementary School

In June 2009, the Roanoke Times reported that maintenance staff at an elementary school in Roanoke, VA disturbed asbestos floor tiles when they were removing carpeting at the school.

The remodeling project was halted after a Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) investigator arrived at the school to inspect the project. When the investigator discovered that carpeting had already been removed from the school and was being trucked to an area landfill, the investigator ordered the debris returned so it could be tested for the presence of asbestos.

The investigator also recommended that all renovation work related to the removal of carpeting at the school be halted until a licensed asbestos removal contractor his hired to perform the work.

The DOLI will continue to investigate the renovation project to determine whether the district will be cited for failing to follow Virginia state regulations regarding renovation or remodeling projects where asbestos-containing materials are present. The investigation is expected to take up to six months to complete.

Even short-term exposure to asbestos is known to cause serious illnesses such as mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer or asbestosis.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos illness, contact our lawyers today for a free review of your case. A Weitz & Luxenberg representative will contact you as soon as possible.