Maintenance worker alleges Philadelphia Housing Authority uses illegal asbestos procedures
Robert Smith is a carpenter who works for the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) in Pennsylvania. He and another PHA maintenance worker, Rudy Barbosa, worked to fix the leaky pipes in tenant Kyeeshah Wright’s wall back in September 2009. Asbestos pipe insulation was strewn about the kitchen floor, and the workers dumped the asbestos debris back into the hole in the wall they’d made to get to the pipes before sealing it up with new drywall and plaster. Smith took pictures with his cell phone as evidence.
Smith claims that PHA maintenance foreman Bill Emmitt routinely instructs workers to perform repair work without regard to asbestos. Plumbers with PHA have been told to moisten and rip asbestos insulation off heating and plumbing pipes, then leave the debris inside the walls or throw it in a dumpster. This is a violation of both federal and local laws.
Regulations mandate that asbestos handling and removal must be done by trained and licensed asbestos contractors. Asbestos debris has to be disposed of inside sealed bags and taken to a special landfill. These laws were put into place to protect the health of workers and of the public. Improper handling can cause asbestos fibers to become airborne. When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they can cause serious illnesses like mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer.
A PHA spokesman denied Smith’s allegations of illegal asbestos practices, claiming that Smith is a disgruntled employee who is unhappy with his pay. PHA sent an environmental consultant from USA Environmental Management to perform visual inspections of three apartments, giving them all a clean bill of health.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Philadelphia Health Department are investigating the situation, too. The Health Department’s Asbestos Control Unit sent an inspector to Wright’s basement, who declared it a danger zone. She took samples and put a warning sign on the door that says, “Danger. Asbestos Hazard. Do Not Enter.”
The EPA is launching an investigation after a reporter called to ask if USA Environmental Management’s visual inspection would be sufficient to determine whether an asbestos hazard exists. The EPA said that samples should have been wiped from the apartment, and some aggressive air testing may have been indicated. If the investigation determines that PHA ignored federal regulations, they could face fines and civil sanctions. If the investigation turns up and negligent, knowing or willful violations, criminal charges could be filed.
For the full story, go to Philadelphia Daily News.
