Georgia EPD official warns that many asbestos workers use fake credentials

Don McCarty, an official with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, told a Newnan group recently that many people working in asbestos removal use false documents. While Georgia regulations require anyone working in asbestos removal to complete specific safety training, apparently many people carry certificates that they have not earned.

McCarty said that a check by the U.S. EPA at a Florida worksite showed that a third of the 89 workers had valid certificates, another third had fake certificates, and the remainder were using certificates of people who were deceased.

When workers are not properly trained, it increases the risk that asbestos fibers will get into the air. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause serious and sometimes fatal diseases like lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis.

For the full story, go to the Times-Herald .

Latest News Stories