Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Rubenstein’s Contract Carpeting LLC was fined $1,800 by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for asbestos violations related to an asbestos abatement project at Bend Senior High School. On September 3, 2009, subcontractors used putty knives as well as scrapers to remove 20 square feet of asbestos floor tiles at the high school. Neither Rubenstein’s nor the subcontractors were licensed or certified to perform asbestos abatement. Unlicensed asbestos abatement is against DEQ regulations. The contractor appealed the penalty in December.

Asbestos abatement is strictly regulated in order to protect community health as well as the health of the workers. The subcontractors who performed the asbestos removal at the high school broke up the asbestos-containing materials as well as did not follow applicable asbestos regulations, leading to a likely release of asbestos fibers into the air. Inhaling asbestos fibers has been proven to cause mesothelioma, lung cancer as well as asbestosis. There is no protected level of asbestos exposure.

The DEQ as well as cited Rubenstein’s for accumulating asbestos-containing waste, as the subcontractors did not properly package as well as label the asbestos waste, which was disposed of in a garbage bin outside the school. No penalty was issued for this violation.

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