The owner of a Michigan-based demolition company has been sentenced to a year in prison and is facing a $1,000 fine for failing to abide regulations regarding the safe handling of asbestos.
Scott Tucker, 43, is the owner of H & M Demolition Company has been charged with failing to abide by safe asbestos handling protocols while condemning an old lumber mill. Federal law requires asbestos infected materials to be kept wet in the event of their removal in order to avoid having fibers released into the air. Tucker and his team reportedly tore down the building’s dry walls and then took the debris to a recycling facility where it was mixed with other debris.
By failing to maintain proper protocol for the disposal of asbestos-laden products, Tucker has put not only his own workers at risk for mesothelioma, but also those of the recycling center and countless civilians in the area.
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer directly correlated to the exposure of asbestos. It is extremely difficult to treat and diagnose because symptoms can take up to 50 years after the initial exposure to manifest. Once the symptoms are present, a victim of mesothelioma has only a year to seek treatment for the disease before it becomes fatal.
While usual violations of asbestos disposal regulations usually result with high fines and costs, U.S. District Judge Robert Holmes Bell, wanted to send a more serious message to those who fail to abide by proper procedures, and sentenced Tucker to a year in prison in addition to his fine of $1,000.
Far too many people neglect to follow the safety guidelines when handling asbestos and as a result, have led to millions of people becoming severely ill with mesothelioma and passing away from the disease.
If you or a loved one have been exposed to asbestos or believe you may have come in contact with the hazardous mineral, it is imperative to seek the help of a mesothelioma attorney in your area. A mesothelioma attorney will contact former and current employers, find out if you have worked in an area where the improper disposal of asbestos occurred, and will even help you set up a doctor’s appointment.
Time is of the essence when fighting mesothelioma. Get in contact with a top mesothelioma attorney immediately to obtain treatment for the disease and to get compensated for your pain or loss.
