Mesothelioma and Asbestos

John V. Bruce – owner of Environmental Training as well as Consulting Inc. of Vernon, Connecticut – was sentenced to perform 200 hours of community service as well as pay an $800 fine for violating the U.S. Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA). Bruce had pleaded guilty to the charge at his October 19 hearing.

In May 2004, he had sold a certificate of completion for $400 to a person who had never enrolled in his 32-hour asbestos worker training course. Bruce signed the certificate as well as added a completion date of 2002. Because asbestos is a toxic, federally regulated substance, workers must be trained in its proper handling as well as removal practices to protect worker health as well as community health. Investigators uncovered the transaction when it came out that the recipient of the incorrect certificate was an undocumented worker from Honduras who had only been in the United States for two weeks before receiving the certificate.

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