Improper Asbestos Removal at University of Connecticut Places Workers at Risk to Develop Mesothelioma, Other Diseases

Alleged failure to follow federal and state regulations regarding the removal of asbestos-containing debris at a University of Connecticut renovation project may have serious health consequences for all those in the area. Exposure to the dangerous mineral is known to cause serious illnesses including mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer and asbestosis to develop many decades after exposure.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos disease, our lawyers may be able to help. Please complete the form on this page for more information about your legal options.

On March 2, 2010, The Hartford Courant reported that asbestos may have been improperly removed during renovation work at the University of Connecticut campus the previous summer. In August 2009, workers renovating the office of the UConn president allegedly disposed of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) and debris.

The improper asbestos removal activity may have violated any number of federal and state regulations regarding the removal of ACM. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, those violations may include:

Having areas where ACM may be present tested prior to beginning an asbestos abatement and removal project;

Hiring an asbestos abatement contractor that has been properly certified to conduct asbestos removal;

Ensuring that all those performing asbestos removal work have been properly trained and certified by the state to handle ACM;

Filing documentation with the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regarding the planned removal of ACM;

Improper disposal of ACM.

Workers and Others at Risk to Develop Serious Illnesses
When the UConn staff members removed flooring materials covered with asbestos-containing mastic adhesives, they allegedly threw the materials out the office window for eventual disposal. This action caused the workers, as well as all those who lived or worked on the UConn campus at the time, to face a lifelong risk to develop asbestos disease.

Countless medical and scientific studies have shown that even those with extremely limited or even one-time exposure bear the same risks as those whose jobs meant almost daily exposure to the cancer-causing mineral.

While the employees who conducted the improper asbestos removal have undergone health screenings, the ultimate outcome of their exposure will not be known for many decades. The time between exposure to asbestos and when symptoms of an illness are first noticed (known as “latency periods”) is 30-40 or more years long. This means that workers in their 20s at the time of their exposure may not develop symptoms of asbestos disease until they are reaching retirement age.

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.