San Diego Gas & Electric Company and two of its employees were convicted in federal court on July 13 for violating safety standards during an asbestos removal project. Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma and other diseases. The charges stemmed from improper, money-saving methods the company used to remove asbestos from nine miles of pipe at the Encanto Gas Holder Facility in Lemon Grove, CA. The company was found guilty of three counts of improperly removing asbestos and one count of making false statements. Two workers were also convicted on some charges. The utility faces a fine of up to $2 million and the workers face a maximum sentence of five years’ prison and fines of $250,000 per conviction.
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